The structure of viral hepatitis and dynamics of cytolitic syndrome in patients with oncohaematological diseases

Objective. To assess the impact of CMV and HHV-6 reactivation on the course of early post-transplant period in patients with hematologic malignancies.   Materials. Retrospective analysis of medical records of 339 patients with hematologic malignancies who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was performed, and markers of CMV and HHV-6 infections were detected (specific IgG, EIA). Blood and other materials from HSCT recipients were tested (PCR) for viral DNA in early post-transplant period (up to Day 100).   Results. Reactivation of viral infections after HSCT was discovered in 177 patients (52,2 %): CMV-infection was detected in 23 %, HHV-6 in 17,4 %, CMV+HHV-6 in 11,6 % of HSCT recipients. CMV DNA was predominantly identified in blood, while HHV-6 DNA was more frequently discovered in GIT mucosa and bone marrow. 40 % of 99 patients with HHV-6 reactivation had concomitant CMV+HHV-6 reactivation. In this group, the clinical manifestation of infections was registered significantly more frequently. Febrile neutropenia was more frequent in HSCT recipients with CMV reactivation, sepsis and graft hypofunction were diagnosed more frequently in presence of HHV-6 and predominantly HHV-6+CMV infections. The direct correlation (using Spearman’s method) between CMV and HHV-6 reactivation and terms of leukopoiesis recovery, engraftment terms, and transplant hypofunction was revealed. An impact of herpetic infections reactivation on the graft hypofunction and late recovery of leukopoiesis was confirmed using the logistic regression; its impact on the chimerism was revealed. In 72 % of cases, the graft failure in early post-transplant period occurred in patients with herpetic infections reactivation.   Conclusion. HHV-6 and CMV reactivation in the early period after HSCT correlates with terms of leukopoiesis recovery, contributes to development of complications, and is an additional factor aggravating the course of the post-transplant period.

Study Objective: to assess the impact of herpesviruses infections reactivation and concomitant chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC) on complications and one-year survival after hemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with hematologic malignancies.Materials and Methods: medical records of HSCT recipients with PCR-confirmed viral infections (CMV, HHV-6, EBV, HSV-1,2, HCV) from Raisa Gorbacheva Memorial Research Institute for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantation of Pavlov First St.Petersburg State Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. The following groups were composed: patients with herpesviruses infections reactivation (PCR+) without clinical manifestation (n=37), patients with clinically manifest herpesviruses infections (n=21), and patients with CHC (n=28). Control groups were selected using matched samples method from patients with negative test results. HSCT complications rate and one-year survival were compared. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics 22 software.Results: Herpesviruses infections reactivation was revealed in 61,2% of 343 patients. The complications rate across the groups did not differ significantly. One-year survival (Kaplan-Meier) was significantly lower in the groups with herpesviruses infections (PCR+) without clinical manifestation (52,1% vs 73,5%), manifest herpesviruses infections (38,1% vs 75,0%), and CHC (64,3% vs 92,9%) than in the respective control groups. There were no significant differences between the group with reactivation of herpesviruses infections without clinical manifestation and the group with manifest herpesviruses infections.Conclusion: Significant impact of herpesviruses infections, including those without clinical manifestation, and HCH with minor symptoms and normal liver functions on one-year survival in patients with hematologic malignancies justifies wider use of antiviral therapy in patients requiring HSCT.

Objective: clinical and laboratory characteristics of HCV infection in patients with oncohematological malignancies. Materials and Methods: The study included 106 patients with a positive serum HCV antibody (anti-HCV) test result, who were examined or treated in 5 specialized oncohematological units of different hospitals in Saint Petersburg in 2018–2019.Laboratory tests included: ALT and AST activity, qualitative (with sensitivity of 60 IU/ml) and quantitative determination of HCV RNA, as well as HCV genotyping by real-time PCR. The presence and the grade of liver fibrosis according to the METAVIR scale were evaluated by indirect elastography on Fibroscan. Results: Men were predominant (62,2%), and most of patients (67%) were of young and middle age (18-59 years old). HCV infection was confirmed in 68% patients, and in 41.7% of them HCV genotype 3 was detected. HCV RNA was not detected in 32% cases, suggesting the spontaneous clearance of the virus. Severe liver fibrosis (F3) or cirrhosis (F4) were found in 40% patients with confirmed viremia. In most patients, the normal ALT activity level was registered. 86% patients diagnosed with HCV infection were followed up by an infectious disease specialist until the present study. 19% patients received antiviral therapy for HCV infection. Conclusion: A significant proportion of patients with advanced liver fibrosis and HCV 3 genotype, causing the greatest difficulties in antiviral treatment for HCV infection, was revealed. Prescription of direct-acting antiviral agents in the early terms after establishment of the diagnosis is reasonable.