Respiratory syncytial virus infection following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2002 Feb;29(4):321-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1703365.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus, one of the most common causes of respiratory infections in immunocompetent individuals, is frequently spread to recipients of HSCT by family members, other patients, and health care workers. In immunosuppressed individuals, progression from upper respiratory tract disease to pneumonia is common, and usually fatal if left untreated. We performed a retrospective analysis of RSV infections in recipients of autologous or allogeneic transplants. The incidence of RSV following allogeneic or autologous HSCT was 5.7% and 1.5%, respectively. Of the 58 patients with an RSV infection, 16 of 21 patients identified within the first post-transplant month, developed pneumonia. Seventy-two percent of patients received aerosolized ribavirin and/or RSV-IGIV, including 23 of 25 patients diagnosed with RSV pneumonia. In this aggressively treated patient population, three patients died of RSV disease, each following an unrelated HSCT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aerosols
  • Aged
  • Antiviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / etiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / etiology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / drug therapy
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / etiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribavirin / administration & dosage
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Transplantation, Homologous

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • Ribavirin