A large global study published in the diary Blood puts an end to hopes for the protective effect of advanced cytomegalovirus
Newswise — Montreal, June 28, 2016 – Recent studies on a small variety of patients along with leukemia treated along with bone marrow transplantation have actually suggested that the presence of the common cytomegalovirus (CMV) in patients or their donors Might protect versus relapse or even death after the transplant. A large global study published in the diary Blood, based on data from some 9,500 transplant patients in over 400 hospitals between 2003 and 2010 now shows the opposite. “The original purpose of the study was to confirm that CMV infection Might steer clear of leukemia relapse, steer clear of death, and become a significant therapeutic tool for enhancing patient survival rates,” said Dr. Pierre Teira, hematologist-oncologist and researcher at the mother-youngster research hospital CHU Sainte-Justine, assistant clinical professor at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Medicine, and initial author of the study. “However, we discovered the exact opposite. Our outcomes clearly reveal that, despite considerable improvement gained in the last twenty years in the fight versus death directly related to CMV, the virus not just does not steer clear of leukemia relapse, however likewise remains a significant factor associated along with the risk of death. Monitoring of CMV after transplantation remains a priority for patients.”
CMV is a common virus in the general population. Indeed, much more compared to 90% of adults are carriers. In healthy and balanced people, CMV infection usually goes unnoticed, despite the fact that the virus remains along with them in latency throughout their lives. However, in leukemia patients receiving bone marrow transplants, CMV infection raises the risk of death. Yet, reactivation of CMV after a transplant is promptly detected and easily treated by current antiviral drugs. “Deaths because of uncontrolled CMV reactivation are virtually zero in this study, so uncontrolled CMV reactivation is not just what reduces survival rates after transplantation. The link between this common virus and increased risk of death remains a biological mystery,” said Dr. Teira.
One feasible explanation is that CMV decreases the ability of the transplant patient’s immune system to fight versus others types of infection. This is supported by the reality that death rates from infections others compared to CMV are better in patients infected along with CMV, or whose donors were. For researchers, the next step is therefore to verify whether the current generation of anti-CMV treatments can easily steer clear of the two reactivation of the virus and weakening of the patient’s immune system versus others types of infection in the presence of CMV infection. “CMV has actually a complex impact on the outcomes for transplant patients, and each year much more compared to 30,000 patients about the globe receive bone marrow transplants from donors. It is therefore crucial for future research to much better know the role played by CMV after bone marrow transplantation and boost the opportunities of triumph of the transplant. This will certainly tips to much better go for the right donor for the right patient,” concluded Dr. Teira.
Bone marrow transplantation
Bone marrow transplantation is used as a treatment in leukemia patients once others types of therapy have actually failed. It entails injecting the patient along with healthy and balanced blood stem cells from the bone marrow of a compatible donor to enable the “good” blood cells to multiply and replace the diseased cells, and to rebuild the immune system to fight versus the health problem and steer clear of infections.
About the study
The Short article “Early cytomegalovirus reactivation remains associated along with increased transplant related mortality in the most up to date era: a CIBMTR analysis” was published online in the diary Blood. The study was conducted using the Focus for global Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry (CIBMTR), which collects every one of data relating to patients and their donors for transplants performed in much more compared to 400 hospitals worldwide. Dr. Pierre Teira is hematologist-oncologist at the CHU Sainte-Justine and assistant clinical professor at the University of Montreal’s Faculty of Medicine. The study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Good health and the U.S. Good health Resources and Services Administration, which support the CIBMTR.
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