Investigation of Epstein-Barr Virus and Parvovirus B19 DNA in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate posttransplant Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and parvovirus B19 DNA in allogeneic stem cell transplant patients between 2009 and 2010. Materials and Methods: Forty-five adult patients in whom allogeneic stem cell transplantation was performed between April 2009 and November 2010 in the Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, were included in the study. EBV and parvovirus B19 DNA positivity was investigated by using real-time polymerase chain reaction technique in 135 plasma samples obtained after transplantation at between 1 and 6 months. Pretransplant serological markers of EBV and parvovirus B19 were provided from patient files. Results: In 32 (71.1%) of the patients, EBV antibodies in the pretransplantation period were as follows: anti-EBNA-1 IgG (+), VCA IgM (-), and VCA IgG (+). In 2 patients (4.45%), these antibodies were as follows: anti-EBNA-1 IgG (+), VCA IgM (-), and VCA IgG (-). In 1 patient (2.2%), they were as follows: anti-EBNA-1 IgG (-), VCA IgM (-), and VCA IgG (+). EBV serological markers were negative in 2 (2.2%) out of 45 patients before transplantation. There was low DNA positivity (<600 copies/mL) in 4 patients (8.9%), and VCA IgM was negative and VCA IgG was positive in these same 4 patients. In spite of low viral load, there were no symptoms related to EBV, and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) did not occur. While in 44 (99.7%) of 45 patients parvovirus B19 IgM was negative and IgG was positive, parvovirus B19 IgM was positive and IgG was negative in 1 (2.3%) patient. Parvovirus B19 DNA was not identified in any of the samples obtained from these 45 patients. Conclusion: In this study, EBV and parvovirus B19 DNA were investigated in allogeneic stem cell transplant patients. None of the patients developed PTLD and parvovirus B19 DNA positivity was not detected. However, this issue needs to be further evaluated in prospective, multicenter studies with larger series of patients.

Post‑transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients: A single center retrospective study between 2005 and 2012

“…PTLD is relatively rare; nevertheless, it is the most frequent malignant disease early after transplantation, with the majority of cases being reported in the first year after transplantation (3,5,6). Risk factors for PTLD development include young age and age over 50 years at transplantation, white race, unrelated or HLA-mismatched graft, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seronegative status prior to transplant, primary EBV infection, type of organ transplant, intensity of immunosuppression and the occurrence of concomitant cytomegalovirus disease (3,7).…”

Parvovirus B19 in the Context of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Evaluating Cell Donors and Recipients

“… 23 At least in the kidney transplant setting, B19V was already recognized as an etiological agent transmitted from donor graft, 24 , 25 but in the allogeneic HSCT setting, consensus has not been reached, with occasional case reports. 26 - 41 …”