Zawilinska B, Kopec J, Szostek S, Piatkowska-Jakubas B, Skotnicki AB, Kosz-Vnenchak M. Lymphotropic herpesvirus DNA detection in patients with active CMV infection - a possible role in the course of CMV infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Med Sci Monit 2011;
17:CR432-441. [PMID:
21804462 PMCID:
PMC3539614 DOI:
10.12659/msm.881904]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The natural history of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in transplant recipients prompts researchers to look for other factors contributing to this infection. The ubiquity of lymphotropic herpesviruses (EBV, HHV-6, and HHV-7) and the possibility of their activation during immunosuppression may suggest their participation in progression of CMV infection in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
MATERIAL/METHODS
The presence of CMV, EBV, HHV-6 and HHV-7 was confirmed through detection of viral DNA isolated from leukocytes. Allo-HSCT recipients (n=55) were examined repeatedly within the average period of 14±7.3 months post-transplant.
RESULTS
CMV DNA was detected in 24% of samples, while EBV, HHV-6 and HHV-7 were detected in 20%, 15% and 14% of samples, respectively. Based on the presence of CMV infection at particular time-points (months) after transplantation, the recipients were divided into 3 groups: Group I (N=15) with persistent infection, Group II (N=20) with transient infection, and Group III (N=20) without CMV infection. In Group I, the mean CMV load was significantly higher than in Group II, and the clinical condition of Group I patients was poorer. All these patients manifested clinical symptoms, and all had episodes of GvHD. All Group I patients developed multiple infections; EBV in 80%, HHV-6 in 47% and HHV-7 in 87% of patients. In the remaining groups, with the exception of HHV-6 in group II, the frequency of infected patients was lower. In addition, CMV presence was often preceded by another herpesvirus.
CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that other herpesviruses, mainly HHV-7, could predispose CMV to cause chronic infection.
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