Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
Automated Cell Enrichment of Cytomegalovirus-specific T cells for Clinical Applications using the Cytokine-capture System
Published on: October 5, 2015
Optimal pre-emptive cytomegalovirus therapy threshold in a patient population with high prevalence of seropositive
Moussab Damlaj1, Farhan Khalid2, Bader Alahmari2
1Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Department of Oncology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia; King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia; King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, KSA, Saudi Arabia.
Introduction:
Preemptive therapy (PET) for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) was shown to decrease the incidence of CMV disease. However, the optimal PET threshold is elusive.
Purpose Of The Study:
To examine the efficacy of PET initiation at a viral threshold of 1000 copies/mL (1560 IU/mL) in a patient population with high prevalence of CMV seropositive status.
Patients And Methods:
A single center retrospective review of patients that underwent allogeneic SCT was done.
Results:
A total of 195 allogeneic SCT recipients were included with median follow up of 18.1 (0.7-95.6) months. A total of 178 (91 %) of patients had a positive CMV PCR with median days to initial reactivation post SCT of 17 (1-1187); 129 patients had peak CMV titer < 1000 copies/mL (low titer) whereas the remaining 49 patients had a peak titer ≥ 1000 copies/mL (high titer). 120 (93 %) of patients with low titers cleared spontaneously with median time to clearance of 40 days (4-188). One patient in the high titer group developed CMV disease. At multivariable analysis; age at SCT HR 1.02 (1.004-1.04; 0.017), malignant vs. benign condition HR 9.4 (2.47-61; 0.0005) and cGVHD HR 0.37 (0.2-0.65; 0.0005) were significant for OS.
Conclusions:
CMV reactivation post SCT was very common in patients with high prevalence of seropositive status. A PET threshold of 1000 copies/mL (1560 IU/mL) appears desirable as it was associated with spontaneous clearance in over 90 % of patients while minimizing treatment related toxicity. Validation of these observations is warranted.
More Related Videos
08:08qPCR Is a Sensitive and Rapid Method for Detection of Cytomegaloviral DNA in Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Biopsy Tissue
Published on: July 9, 2014
05:53Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
Published on: July 6, 2013
