Cytomegalovirus Reactivation in Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Non-transplant Setting

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is predominately a childhood disease and around two third of cases are of B-cell phenotype. Cytomegalovirus is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplant; however, it is rare in patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in non-transplant settings. In this study, we evaluated 72 patients of acute precursor (pre) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center, out of which three were positive for Cytomegalovirus.