Impact of stem cell graft on early viral infections and immune reconstitution after allogeneic transplantation in adults

Abstract Background Viral infections are well-known complications after allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT). Objectives We compared prospectively incidences of DNAemia and active infections (AI) for five opportunistic viruses (Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Adenovirus (ADV)) and kinetics of immune reconstitution (IR) in adults receiving either double umbilical cord blood (dUCB group) or unrelated peripheral blood stem cell (uPBSC group) allo-SCT after a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen. Study design Whole blood samples were collected at transplant, every 15 days during the first 3 months and at 4, 5 and 6 months post-transplant. Results Sixty-five patients were enrolled (uPBSC n = 34; dUCB n = 31). Incidences of HHV-6 and BKPyV DNAemia were significantly higher for dUCB (97% vs 23.5% and 58% vs 32%, respectively) while EBV DNAemia was more frequently detected in uPBSC (71% vs 26%). The incidence of CMV DNAemia was similar between both groups. ADV AI developed only in dUCB. HHV-6 AI were also higher in dUCB (84% vs 21%). In multivariate analysis, dUCB graft was the only independent factor associated with HHV-6 DNAemia (OR: 19.0; 95%CI: 5.2–69.1; p  Conclusion We demonstrate a strong correlation between sources of graft and patterns of viral DNAemia and AI and IR after RIC allo-SCT.