Monitoring of cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and adenovirus infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Purpose: Haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with iatrogenic immunosuppression are high-risk patients for viral infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and adenovirus (ADV) infections in HSCT recipients. Materials and Methods: We prospectively monitored 35 patients aged 0-17 years who had allogeneic (n=30) and autologous (n=5) HSCT by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction tests for CMV, EBV, and ADV. The monitoring was performed one week before HSCT and weekly for the first 100 days, once a month up to one year after HSCT. In addition, seropositivity for viruses was analysed by Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay a week before transplantation. Results: Before transplantation, all 35 (100%) patients who underwent HSCT were CMV IgG positive, 30 (85.7% - 95% CI: 74.1%-97.3%) HSCT recipients were found to be EBV IgG positive. CMV infection was found in 24 (80% - 95% CI: 65.7%-94.3%), ADV infection in 11 (36.7% - 95% CI: 19.4%-53.9%) and EBV infection in 8 (26.7% - 95% CI: 10.8%-42.5%) allogeneic HSCT patients. In this group, CMV DNA viral load in 8 (26.7%) patients, of which one (3.3%) coinfected with EBV DNA and one (3.3%) with ADV DNA, was higher than 1000 copies/mL which was required for pre-emptive treatment. Among 5 autologous HSCT recipients, CMV DNA was detected in 2 patients, EBV DNA in 5 and ADV DNA in 2. Pre-emptive treatment was given to 11 (%31.4 - 95% CI: 16%-46.8%; 6 CMV, 2 EBV, 1 ADV, 1 CMV-EBV and 1 CMV-ADV infection) of 35 patients. Thus, the development of viral disease was prevented in 7 (63.6% - 95% CI: 35.2%-92.1%). Of the total 35 patients, only 2 (5.7% - 95% CI: 0.0%-13.4%) died due to viral infection. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of viral infections by prospective monitoring of viral loads in HSCT patients would be effective in preventing morbidity and mortality by ensuring timely initiation of pre-emptive therapy.