Efficacy and safety of preemptive therapy for cytomegalovirus end-organ disease in people living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cytomegalovirus end-organ-disease (CMV EOD) is still a major cause of debilitating illness in people living with HIV, especially in developing countries. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of preemptive therapy against CMV EOD in HIV-positive adults with CMV viremia. Methods: Systematic review of clinical trials by searching electronic databases and clinical trial registries, screening and selection of references, data extraction and assessment of risk of bias. The results were presented in a narrative synthesis. Aggregated analyzes for dichotomous outcomes were reported as odds ratios with 95 % Confidence Intervals. Results: Four RTC were included. A reduction in the risk of CMV EOD with preemptive therapy was found OR=0.49 (95 % CI 0.31-0.76). We did not identify significant differences for all-cause mortality, adverse events, and withdrawal of the therapy secondary to adverse events. Conclusions: Preemptive therapy could be a potential option for preventing CMV EOD in people living with HIV.

Clinical values of preemptive therapy versus universal prophylaxis in the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection post kidney transplantation: a systematic review and Meta-analysis / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of preemptive therapy versus universal prophylaxis in prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection post kidney transplantation.Methods Databases including the PubMed,EMbase,sinoMed,Web of Knowledge,the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails (CENTRAL) and other databases were searched up to December 2016 for controlled clinical studies which involved preemptive therapy and universal prophylaxis.Odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95％ confidence interval (CI) was performed using Review Manager 5.3 software to synthesize the results.Results 11 studies with a total of 2 560 patients were included in this Metaanalysis.Results showed that universal prophylaxis was superior to preemptive therapy in the total CMV infection and CMV disease(OR =3.38,95％ CI 2.13-5.36,P ＜0.001;OR =1.69,95％ CI 1.14-2.48,P =0.008),otherwise it was on the contrary in the late onset CMV infection and CMV disease (OR =0.07,95％ CI0.02 ～0.19,P ＜ 0.001;OR =0.08,95％ CI 0.01-0.60,P =0.01).However,there was no significance in the short outcomes between the two groups including 1-year recipient and graft survival and renal function.In addition,preemptive therapy was superior to universal prophylaxis in the adverse events (OR =0.33,95 ％ CI 0.15-0.72,P =0.006).Conclusions There was no significant difference between the two prophylaxis in the prevention of CMV infection,but preemptive therapy was superior to universal prophylaxis in the prevention of anti-virus adverse effects.

Clinical correlates of pp65 antigenemia monitoring in the first months of post kidney transplant in patients undergoing universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy

Abstract Introduction: Human cytomegalovirus is a major cause of morbidity in kidney transplant patients. Objectives: We aimed to study viral replication and serological response in the first months post kidney transplant in patients undergoing universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy and correlate the findings with the clinical course of Human cytomegalovirus infection. Patients and methods: Independent from the clinical strategy adopted for managing Human cytomegalovirus infection, prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy, the pp65 antigenemia assay and serological response were assessed on the day of transplantation, and then weekly during the first three months of post-transplant. Results: From the 32 transplant recipients, 16 were positive for pp65 antigenemia, with a similar incidence rate in each group. There were no positive results in the first three weeks of monitoring; the positivity rate peaked at week eight. There was a trend for a higher and earlier frequency of positivity in the universal prophylaxis group in which the course of the Human cytomegalovirus infection was also more severe. Despite the differences in clinical picture and in the initial immunosuppressant schedule, the serological response was similar in both groups. Conclusion: Routine monitoring during the first three post-transplant months has a positive impact on the early detection of Human cytomegalovirus viral replication allowing for timely treatment in order to reduce morbidity of the disease. The strategy of universal therapy employing intravenous ganciclovir was associated to a worse clinical course of the Human cytomegalovirus infection suggesting that the use of >10 cells/2 × 105 leukocytes as a cut-off in this setting may be inappropriate.

Practical Aspects of Cytomegalovirus DNA Quantitative PCR / 대한임상미생물학회지

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a clinically important pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients and is typically monitored using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). International standards and certified reference materials were recently developed by the WHO, providing the opportunity to standardize viral load reporting. Clinical microbiologists who conduct quantitative CMV DNA testing should be aware of technical issues that can affect the analytical and clinical performance of the method used. These include specimen type, limits of detection and quantification, linear range, reproducibility, and wide variability in viral load values among different assays. Specimen types for testing include whole blood, plasma, serum, and peripheral blood leukocytes. The tests that use whole blood and peripheral blood leukocytes have higher sensitivities. Adsorption chromatography methods are widely used for nucleic acid extraction, and efficiencies can differ between manual and automatic processes. The most common method for quantitative CMV DNA testing is real-time PCR. All CMV testing methods require quality control at the pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic stages. In transplant patients, specific quantitative results and monitoring of any changes at follow-up are important. Five to seven days is an adequate follow-up interval in this regard, and drug-resistant CMV should be suspected if there is no response to therapy. One specimen type should be chosen for follow-up quantitative CMV DNA testing, optimized according to WHO standards. Further studies are needed to better standardize CMV testing approaches and to determine the appropriate clinical cut-off level.

Targeted preemptive therapy according to perceived risk of CMV infection after kidney transplantation

ABSTRACT Background: The identification of the best strategy to manage cytomegalovirus infection is hampered by uncertainties regarding the risk/benefit ratios of universal prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy, the impact of indirect cytomegalovirus effects and the associated costs. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of targeted preemptive therapy according to perceived risk of cytomegalovirus infection after kidney transplantation. Methods: 144 adult kidney transplant recipients were enrolled in this 12-month study. None received cytomegalovirus pharmacological prophylaxis. Only high risk patients (positive donor/negative recipient (D+/R−), use of induction therapy with antithymocyte globulin, treatment of rejection) received preemptive therapy based on the result of pp65 antigenemia test. Low-risk patients with symptoms related to cytomegalovirus were screened for pp65 antigenemia and treatment initiated if confirmed cytomegalovirus disease. Blinded cytomegalovirus DNAemia was collected weekly during the first three months. Results: The incidence of cytomegalovirus infection was 34% and cytomegalovirus disease was 17%. The incidence was 25% in D+/R−, 69% in those receiving induction with rabbit antithymocite globulin (r-ATG), 46% in those treated for acute rejection, and 28% in low risk patients. By week 3 DNAemia was observed in 30% of patients who were not treated for cytomegalovirus infection/disease, and values ≥2.169 UI/mL showed 61% sensitivity and 85% specificity to detect cytomegalovirus disease (AUC = 0.849 ± 0.042, p < 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, only anti-thymocyte globulin induction was associated with cytomegalovirus infection/disease whereas only expanded donor criteria and renal function at 30 days were associated with renal function 12 months after transplantation. Conclusion: Targeted preemptive therapy in patients with perceived higher risk for cytomegalovirus infection/disease was effective in preventing severe clinical presentation, including tissue invasive and late cytomegalovirus infection. This strategy is associated with direct and indirect cost-savings.

Comparison of the performance of polymerase chain reaction and pp65 antigenemia for the detection of human cytomegalovirus in immunosuppressed patients / Comparação de métodos para detecção de infecção por citomegalovírus em pacientes imunossuprimidos

INTRODUCTION: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is often reactive in latently infected immunosuppressed patients. Accordingly, HCMV remains one of the most common infections following solid organ and hemopoietic stem cell transplantations, resulting in significant morbidity, graft loss and occasional mortality. The early diagnosis of HCMV disease is important in immunosuppressed patients, since in these individuals, preemptive treatment is useful. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of the in-house qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pp65 antigenemia to HCMV infection in immunosuppressed patients in the Hospital de Clínicas of Porto Alegre (HCPA). METHODS: A total of 216 blood samples collected between August 2006 and January 2007 were investigated. RESULTS: Among the samples analyzed, 81 (37.5 percent) were HCMV-positive by PCR, while 48 (22.2 percent) were positive for antigenemia. Considering antigenemia as the gold standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values and negative predictive values for PCR were 87.5 percent, 76.8 percent, 51.8 percent and 95.5 percent respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that qualitative PCR has high sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV). Consequently PCR is especially indicated for the initial diagnosis of HCMV infection. In the case of preemptive treatment strategy, identification of patients at high-risk for HCMV disease is fundamental and PCR can be useful tool.

INTRODUÇÃO: O citomegalovírus humano (HCMV), causador de infecção latente, reativa com frequência em pacientes imunossuprimidos. Portanto, o HCMV permanece uma das infecções mais comuns após transplantes de órgãos sólidos e de células hematopoiéticas resultando em significativa morbidade, perda do enxerto e ocasional mortalidade. Assim, o diagnóstico precoce para uma terapia preventiva é de grande importância. Este estudo visa comparar o desempenho dos métodos PCR qualitativo in-house e antigenemia pp65 para o diagnóstico de infecção por CMV em pacientes imunossuprimidos do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado em 216 amostras de sangue total (EDTA) coletadas de 85 pacientes, entre agosto de 2006 e janeiro de 2007. RESULTADOS: Dentre as 216 amostras analisadas, 81 (37,5 por cento) amostras apresentaram resultados positivos na PCR, enquanto 48 (22,2 por cento) apresentaram resultados positivos na antigenemia. A sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo e valor preditivo negativo para a PCR, considerando antigenemia como padrão foram 87,5 por cento, 76,8 por cento, 51,8 por cento e 95,5 por cento, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Estes resultados demonstraram que a PCR tem alta sensibilidade e valor preditivo negativo. Consequentemente PCR é especialmente indicada para o diagnóstico inicial de infecção por HCMV. No caso da estratégia de terapia preventiva, a identificação de pacientes com alto risco para a doença por HCMV é fundamental e a PCR pode ser uma ferramenta útil.

Monitoring of early Epstein-Barr virus reactivation and preemptive therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中华内科杂志

Objective To investigate early Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation and the outcome of preemptive therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods From January 2007 to January 2009, totally 277 patients after allo-HSCT were studied (haploidentical 116,unrelated 75, matched sibling 86). Conditioning regimens were mainly busulfan (BU) + cyclophosphamide ( CY)/fludarabine(Flu) or total body irradiation (TBI) + CY/Flu. Antihuman thymocyte globulin (ATG)was added in haploidentical and unrelated transplants. Plasma EBV DNA was monitored once to twice weekly in the first 3 months after allo-HSCT with real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). EBV viremia was diagnosed when EBV DNA was more than 5 × 102 copies/ml but without symptoms. Acyclovir (10 mg/kg, intravenous drip, 8 h) was used for preemptive therapy and immnuo-suppressants were decreased if possible. Results Totally 33 patients ( 11.9% ) developed EBV viremia with a median time at day 44 (day 19 to day 84). The incidences of EBV viremia in the transplants from matched sibling,haploidentical, unrelated donors were 0, 15.5%, 20. 0%, respectively. There was no significant difference between haploidentical and unrelated transplants ( P = 0. 09 ), but much less EBV viremia was seen in matched sibling transplant ( P = 0. 001 ). Twenty of 33 patients ( 60. 6% ) had complete response to preemptive therapy. The median time to reach EBV DNA negative in plasma was 11 (4-56) d. The median duration of preemptive therapy was 21 (14-60) d. Both univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that haploidentical and unrelated transplants, acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) were the risk factors for EBV viremia. Two-year overall survival in the patients with EBV viremia was significantly lower than that without EBV viremia (54. 2% vs 72. 1%, P = 0. 006 ). Conclusions Our large clinical study has demonstrated that preemptive therapy with acyclovir that is guided by EBV viremia is effective in majority of the patients with high-risk for EBV reactivation after allo-HSCT, which may further decrease the risk for developing life-threatening EBV disease or post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder. Haploidentical and unrelated transplants, acute GVHD are the risk factors for EBV viremia which has negative impact on survival.

The Effect of Preemptive Therapy with Intravenous Ganciclovir Followed by Oral Ganciclovir against Cytomegalovirus Infection after Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / 대한혈액학회지

BACKGROUND: Recently, in vitro studies demonstrated faster immune reconstitution after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) compared to bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In consequence, it can be expected that better immune reconstitution against cytomegalovirus (CMV) will lead to a reduced CMV-related morbidity and mortality after allogeneic PBSCT. METHODS: Forty seven patients who received allogeneic PBSCT were enrolled. CMV was routinely sought by at least weekly screening for CMV-related matrix protein pp65 antigenemia after engraftment (WBC >1,500/nL) was achieved. CMV antigenemia was treated with ganciclovir 5mg/kg twice daily i.v. as preemptive therapy for at least 10 days. After then, ganciclovir i.v. was switched to oral ganciclovir for maintenance therapy. RESULTS: CMV antigenemia was detected 8 (17%) out of 47 patients and CMV disease developed in only 1 case (2.1%). The medianperiod of time until the detection of CMV antigenemia was 51.5 days (range, 35~230). In 7 out of 8 cases, CMV antigenemia disappeared with ganciclovir treatment in 7 days. One patient with CMV disease (CMV interstitial pneumonitis) showed persistent CMV antigenemia for 3 months and expired due to restrictive lung disease. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CMV antigenemia and resistance to ganciclovir treatment was lower than the incidence of those reported in allogeneic BMT trials. These findings suggest that faster immune reconstitution against CMV after allogeneic PBSCT might have a stronger role in the prevention of emergence of CMV antigenemia and ganciclovir treatment than after allogeneic BMT.