Cytomegalovirus infections in unrelated cord blood transplantation in pediatric patients: incidence, risk factors, and outcomes

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood [CB] have increasingly become a viable alternate source of progenitor cells for hematopoietic cell transplantation [HSCT] Cytomegalovirus [CMV] is thought to contribute significantly to HSCT morbidity and mortality. Retrospective case-control study in patients at tertiary care center. We determined the incidence, risk factors and outcomes for CMV infection and disease after unrelated cord blood transplantation [UCBT] in children. Between 2003 and 2007, 73 pediatric patients underwent UCBT and 68% of recipients were CMV seropositive. The overall incidence of CMV infection, early and late CMV infection was 58.9% [43/73], 62.8% [27/43], and 37.4% [1 6/43], respectively. In patients with early CMV infection, 6 of 27 [22%] patients progressed to develop CMV end-organ disease including pneumonitis and retinitis. High levels CMV antigenemia >70 infected cells by pp65 antigenemia assay + PMNs, P-.237 were associated with a higher risk of progression to CMV disease. The development of CMV infections was higher in CMV-seropositive recipients [P<.001] and in those who developed graft-versus-host-diseases [GVHD] [P<.001]. Other risk factors for CMV infection include the use of high-dose corticosteroids [P<.001] and older age of the recipient at the time of transplant [P<.002]. Late CMV infection was strongly associated with a previous history of early CMV infection [P<.001]. CMV infection is a significant complication in UCBT recipients in pediatric patients and is associated with an increase in transplant-related morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for CMV infections after UCBT include GVHD, use of corticosteroids, underlying diseases [hematologic malignancies] and older age. Late CMV infection was strongly associated with a previous history of CMV infection

Human metapneumovirus and human coronavirus infection and pathogenicity in Saudi children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness

Human metapneumovirus [hMPV] and the Netherlands human coronavirus [HCoV-NL63] have been isolated from children with respiratory tract infection. The prevalence of these viruses has not been reported from Saudi Arabia. We sought to determine whether hMPV and HCoV-NL63 are responsible for acute respiratory illness and also to determine clinical features and severity of illness in the hospitalized pediatric patient population. Prospective hospital-based study from July 2007 to November 2008. Nasopharyngeal specimens from children less than 16 years old who were suffering from acute respiratory diseases were tested for hMPV and HCoV-NL63 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Samples were collected from July 2007 to November 2008. Both viruses were found among Saudi children with upper and lower respiratory tract diseases during the autumn and winter of 2007 and 2008, contributing to 11,1% of all viral diagnoses, with individual incidences of 8.3% [hMPV] and 2.8% [HCoV-NL63] among 489 specimens. Initial symptoms included fever, cough, and nasal congestion. Lower respiratory tract disease occurs in immunocompromised individuals and those with underlying conditions. Clinical findings of respiratory failure and culture-negative shock were established in 7 children infected with hMPV and having hematologic malignancies, myelofibrosis, Gaucher disease, and congenital immunodeficiency; 2 of the 7 patients died with acute respiratory failure. All children infected with HCoV-NL63 had underlying conditions; 1 of the 4 patients developed respiratory failure. hMPV and HCoV-NL63 are important causes of acute respiratory illness among hospitalized Saudi children. hMPV infection in the lower respiratory tract is associated with morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. HCoV-NL63 may cause severe lower respiratory disease with underlying conditions