Cytomegalovirus gastritis as a rare adverse event during combined ipilimumab and nivolumab in a patient with melanoma.

Immunotherapy has improved survival outcomes of patients with advanced melanoma. Lower gastrointestinal tract immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common during treatment; however, gastritis is not frequently observed. Herein, we report a case of severe cytomegalovirus (CMV)-related gastritis in a patient treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab for metastatic melanoma. This report presents a 60-year-old woman with stage IV BRAF wild-type melanoma. After the second course of ipilimumab-nivolumab, the patient reported epigastric discomfort after meals, anorexia, and subsequent nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, and weight loss. Disease staging with PET/CT scan showed very good partial response and diffuse gastroduodenitis. The patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy, showing severe esophageal candidiasis and diffuse hemorrhagic, edematous, and ulcerative mucosa in the whole gastric wall. Biopsies of the gastric wall were obtained. Before receipt of the final pathology report, the patient was empirically started on corticosteroids based on the clinical suspicion of immune-related gastritis, without improvement of symptoms. The hematoxylin-eosin staining demonstrated active gastritis with diffuse nuclear cytopathic viral inclusions in epithelial and interstitial cells; CMV infection was confirmed with immunohistochemical staining. The patient started ganciclovir and fluconazole, with rapid improvement of symptoms. This case presents a rare instance of CMV gastritis in a patient receiving combined anti-PD1 and anti-CTLA4 , in the absence of immune-suppression to manage an irAE. In the case of suggestive symptoms of irAEs, a high index of clinical suspicion is required to rule out concomitant or isolated infective disease. Guidelines for prophylaxis and treatment of these patients are needed, to optimize treatment results.

Maribavir: Mechanism of action, clinical, and translational science.

Maribavir is an oral benzimidazole riboside for treatment of post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/disease that is refractory to prior antiviral treatment (with or without resistance). Through competitive inhibition of adenosine triphosphate, maribavir prevents the phosphorylation actions of UL97 to inhibit CMV DNA replication, encapsidation, and nuclear egress. Maribavir is active against CMV strains with viral DNA polymerase mutations that confer resistance to other CMV antivirals. After oral administration, maribavir is rapidly and highly absorbed (fraction absorbed >90%). The approved dose of 400 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) achieves a steady-state area under the curve per dosing interval of 128 h*µg/mL and trough concentration of 4.90 µg/mL (13.0 µM). Maribavir is highly bound to human plasma proteins (98%) with a small apparent volume of distribution of 27.3 L. Maribavir is primarily cleared by hepatic CYP3A4 metabolism; its major metabolite, VP44669 (pharmacologically inactive), is excreted in the urine and feces. There is no clinically relevant impact on maribavir pharmacokinetics by age, sex, race/ethnicity, body weight, transplant type, or hepatic/renal impairment status. In phase II dose-ranging studies, maribavir showed similar rates of CMV viral clearance across 400, 800, or 1200 mg b.i.d. groups, ranging from 62.5-70% in study 202 (NCT01611974) and 74-83% in study 203 (EudraCT 2010-024247-32). In the phase III SOLSTICE trial (NCT02931539), maribavir 400 mg b.i.d. demonstrated superior CMV viremia clearance at week 8 versus investigator-assigned treatments, with lower treatment discontinuation rates. Dysgeusia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were commonly experienced adverse events among patients treated with maribavir in clinical trials.

Efficacy and safety of extended duration letermovir prophylaxis in recipients of haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation at risk of cytomegalovirus infection: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: In a pivotal phase 3 trial of cytomegalovirus prophylaxis with letermovir for up to 100 days after allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), 12% of participants developed clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection after letermovir was discontinued. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of extending the duration of letermovir prophylaxis for clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection from 100 days to 200 days following HSCT. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial at 32 sites in six countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA). Cytomegalovirus­seropositive HSCT recipients (aged ≥18 years) who had received letermovir prophylaxis for up to 100 days following HSCT and who remained at high risk of late clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection (with no previous history of clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection, defined as initiation of pre-emptive therapy for documented cytomegalovirus viraemia, onset of cytomegalovirus end-organ disease, or both) were eligible. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive either an additional 100 days (ie, a total of 200 days; letermovir group) of oral or intravenous letermovir 480 mg once daily, adjusted to 240 mg once daily for participants on cyclosporin A, or 100 days of a placebo comparator for letermovir (ie, a total of 100 days of letermovir; placebo group), following HSCT. Randomisation was done using a central interactive response technology system, stratified by study centre and haploidentical donor (yes or no). Participants, investigators, and sponsor personnel were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of participants from randomisation to week 28 (200 days after HSCT) with clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection, analysed using the full analysis set population (ie, those who received at least one dose of study intervention). Safety was analysed in all participants as treated (ie, those who received at least one dose according to the study intervention they were assigned to). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03930615, and is complete. FINDINGS: Between June 21, 2019, and March 16, 2022, 255 patients were screened for eligibility and 220 (86%) were randomly assigned (145 [66%] in the letermovir group and 75 [34%] in the placebo group). Between randomisation and week 28, four (3%) of 144 participants in the letermovir group and 14 (19%) of 74 in the placebo group developed clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection (treatment difference -16·1% [95% CI -25·8 to -6·5]; p=0·0005). The most common adverse events among participants in the letermovir group versus the placebo group were graft-versus-host disease (43 [30%] vs 23 [31%]), diarrhoea (17 [12%] vs nine [12%]), nausea (16 [11%] vs 13 [18%]), pyrexia (13 [9%] vs nine [12%]), and decreased appetite (six [4%] vs nine [12%]). The most frequently reported serious adverse events were recurrent acute myeloid leukaemia (six [4%] vs none) and pneumonia (three [2%] vs two [3%]). No deaths were considered to be drug-related by the investigator. INTERPRETATION: Extending the duration of letermovir prophylaxis to 200 days following HSCT is efficacious and safe in reducing the incidence of late clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection in patients at risk. FUNDING: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

Effects of Induction Therapy on Graft Functions in Terms of Immunologic Risk.

BACKGROUND: Advances in immunosuppressive therapies and surgical techniques have led to a significant reduction in the incidence of rejection within 1 year after kidney transplantation. Immunologic risk is an important factor affecting graft functions and guiding the clinician in the selection of induction therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate graft functions based on serum creatinine levels, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD- EPI) and proteinuria levels, frequency of leukopenia, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and BK virus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity in patients with low and high immunologic risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 80 renal recipients. Recipients were divided into 2 groups: patients at low immunologic risk who received basiliximab only and those with high immunologic risk who received low-dose (1.5 mg/kg for 3 days) antithymocyte globulin and basiliximab. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the 2 risk groups in terms of first, third, sixth, and 12th-month creatinine levels, CKD-EPI, proteinuria levels, leukopenia frequency, and CMV and BK virus PCR positivity. CONCLUSION: One-year graft survivals did not differ significantly between these 2 treatment modalities. The combined use of low-dose antithymocyte globulin and basiliximab in the induction treatment of patients with high immunologic risk seems promising in terms of graft survival, leukopenia frequency, and CMV and BK virus PCR positivity.

A retrospective study of air quality associated with teratogenic pathogen screening in women of reproductive age in southern China.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes are associated with a poor ambient atmospheric environment. Infections by teratogenic pathogens such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus (HSV) are the main cause of the worse pregnant outcomes. However, environmental factors governing these infections are uncertain and epidemiological studies are limited. An epidemiological study on relationships between air pollutants and antibodies against teratogenic pathogens will be explored. In total, 5475 women of childbearing age were enrolled in the study between January 2018 and December 2019 in a hospital in Shantou, China. Antibodies against pathogens were measured by electrochemical luminescence. Everyday air quality data, concerning particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and other parameters, were acquired from a government web site, and the relationships between them were evaluated with nonparametric and multivariate linear regression analyses. Not only titers of herpes simplex virus HSV(I+II) IgGs in spring, but also titers of cytomegalovirus IgG (CMV IgG) and HSV I IgG in autumn, both had positive associations with concentrations of SO2. When PM2.5 or PM10 exposure is elevated, HSV(I+II) IgGs, TOX IgM should be paid more attention in spring or summer. Air pollution may be crucial for teratogenic pathogen infections. This study highlights air pollution could increase the risk of teratogenic pathogen infection, implying stronger measures should be taken to protect air environment and screenings of associated antibody should be strengthened in different season.

Ocrelizumab-induced colitis and cytomegalovirus infection and their disadvantageous interaction with underlying multiple sclerosis.

Ocrelizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody against the B-lymphocyte antigen CD20 and the only approved treatment option in primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Herpesvirus-related infections like cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are common in patients receiving ocrelizumab, whereas gastrointestinal side effects with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) like esophagitis or colitis are very rare. This case report describes the challenging clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features of an ocrelizumab-induced colitis overlapping with CMV infection and their disadvantageous interaction with the underlying multiple sclerosis.

Risk of infections in patients with pemphigus treated with rituximab vs. azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil: a large-scale global cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The risk of infectious complications among patients with pemphigus managed by rituximab is yet to be precisely elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the risk of infections in patients with pemphigus managed by rituximab vs. first-line corticosteroid-sparing agents [azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)]. METHODS: A global population-based cohort study compared patients with pemphigus initiating rituximab (n = 963) vs. azathioprine or MMF (n = 963) regarding the risk of 26 different infections. Propensity score matching was conducted to optimize comparability. RESULTS: During the initial 12 months following treatment, patients under rituximab experienced elevated risk of COVID-19 [hazard ratio (HR) 1.82, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-3.14; P = 0.028], parasitic diseases (HR 3.22, 95% CI 1.04-9.97; P = 0.032) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.04-2.58; P = 0.033). When evaluating infections developing ≥ 12 months after drug initiation, rituximab was associated with greater risk of pneumonia (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.00-2.10; P = 0.047), COVID-19 (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.49-2.33; P < 0.001), osteomyelitis (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.11-5.31; P = 0.023), herpes simplex virus (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.03-4.11; P = 0.037) and CMV (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.07-2.49; P = 0.023) infections. CONCLUSIONS: Within the first 12 months after treatment, patients under rituximab experience an elevated risk of COVID-19, parasitic and CMV infections. Rituximab is associated with pneumonia, osteomyelitis and viral diseases even beyond the first year after therapy. Pneumococcal vaccine and suppressive antiviral therapy should be considered even 1 year following therapy. There is no signal for elevated risk of tuberculosis, hepatitis B virus reactivation, Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Evaluating the Incidence and Risk Factors for Acute Cellular Rejection in a Steroid Sparing Liver Transplant Center.

BACKGROUND: Corticosteroids has been the mainstay of immunosuppression (IMS) following liver transplant (LT). With the advent of more potent IMS, complete steroid withdrawal has become possible after LT. However, there is limited data regarding the incidence and risk factors for acute cellular rejection (ACR) in LT recipients on steroid sparing regimens. OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence and risk factors of ACR in LT recipients at an urban LT center utilizing a steroid-sparing IMS regimen. METHODS: This was a single center retrospective study evaluating incidence of ACR in adults (>18 years) who received a LT between 01/01/2008 and 6/30/2019 at a steroid-sparing liver transplant center. Data between patients who had ACR and patients who did not were compared and risk factors were identified by multivariate logistic linear regression. RESULTS: A total of 266 patients were included in this analysis, of which 18.4% experienced ACR within the first year of LT. Median time to first ACR was 134 (interquartile range [IQR]: 34-246) days. Black race (odds ratio [OR]: 4.39, P < 0.001), continued need for prednisone (OR: 2.80, P = 0.015) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia (OR: 6.27, P < 0.001)) were independent risk factors for ACR. Tacrolimus use was associated with less ACR (OR: 0.33, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Steroid sparing regimens for IMS post-LT were not associated with an increased incidence of ACR when compared to reported ACR rates in literature. Potential risk factors for ACR include Black race, the use of prednisone maintenance IMS therapy, and CMV viremia.

Spleen-Restricted Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in the First Year After Kidney Transplant - A Case Report.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are a feared complication after transplant. They are mostly of B cell origin and are frequently Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive, particularly in early onset PTLD. Later on, non-B and EBV-negative PTLD are increasingly reported. EBV seronegative receptors (particularly when paired with an EBV seropositive donor) together with the net degree of immunosuppression-a concept often difficult to quantify-are the most consistently described risk factors for the development of PTLD. Conversely, its association with a particular immunosuppressive agent or other virus, namely cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease, has been inconsistently reported. We present a challenging case where an EBV negative monomorphic peripheric T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed in the first year after kidney transplant in a patient with a recent history of CMV disease from a resistant strain.

Cytomegalovirus infection in patients with glomerular diseases treated with cyclophosphamide: a single-center prospective study.

PURPOSE: Cytomegalovirus infection is an important complication in immunocompromised patients. As few studies have shown that cyclophosphamide treatment is a risk factor for cytomegalovirus infection in patients with glomerulonephritis, we aimed to describe the frequency and risk factors of cytomegalovirus infection in glomerulonephritis patients treated with cyclophosphamide. METHODS: We prospectively recruited 43 cytomegalovirus seropositive patients with glomerulonephritis treated with cyclophosphamide. We screened all patients for viral DNA monthly during treatment. Patients were compared for age, sex, glomerular pathology, renal function and clinical status regarding development of cytomegalovirus infection before and after the treatment. RESULTS: Cytomegalovirus infection was detected in 10 (23.3%) patients, most commonly within the first 2 months of cyclophosphamide treatment. All patients recovered without any cytomegalovirus-related complications. Patients with cytomegalovirus infection had higher serum creatinine (4.2 ± 3.2 vs. 1.9 ± 1.8 mg/dl, p = 0.006) and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (29 ± 11 vs. 65 ± 8 ml/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.016) at diagnosis compared with cytomegalovirus infection non-occurred patients. In addition, number of patients presented with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis were higher in cytomegalovirus infection group (80.0% vs. 27.3%, p = 0.007). Moreover, cytomegalovirus infection was associated with prolonged hospital stay (54 ± 7 vs. 29 ± 6 days, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION: Cytomegalovirus infection is a common complication in glomerulonephritis patients treated with cyclophosphamide in this prospective study. Routine monitoring and prophylaxis should be considered for these high-risk patients.

Posttransplant cyclophosphamide is associated with increased cytomegalovirus infection: a CIBMTR analysis.

Prior studies suggest increased cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after haploidentical donor transplantation with posttransplant cyclophosphamide (HaploCy). The role of allograft source and posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) in CMV infection is unclear. We analyzed the effect of graft source and PTCy on incidence of CMV infection, and effects of serostatus and CMV infection on transplant outcomes. We examined patients reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research between 2012 and 2017 who had received HaploCy (n = 757), matched related (Sib) with PTCy (SibCy, n = 403), or Sib with calcineurin inhibitor-based prophylaxis (SibCNI, n = 1605). Cumulative incidences of CMV infection by day 180 were 42%, 37%, and 23%, respectively (P < .001). CMV disease was statistically comparable. CMV infection risk was highest for CMV-seropositive recipients (R+), but significantly higher in PTCy recipients regardless of donor (HaploCy [n = 545]: hazard ratio [HR], 50.3; SibCy [n = 279]: HR, 47.7; SibCNI [n = 1065]: HR, 24.4; P < .001). D+/R- patients also had increased risk for CMV infection. Among R+ or those developing CMV infection, HaploCy had worse overall survival and nonrelapse mortality. Relapse was unaffected by CMV infection or serostatus. PTCy was associated with lower chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) overall, but CMV infection in PTCy recipients was associated with higher chronic GVHD (P = .006). PTCy, regardless of donor, is associated with higher incidence of CMV infection, augmenting the risk of seropositivity. Additionally, CMV infection may negate the chronic GVHD protection of PTCy. This study supports aggressive prevention strategies in all receiving PTCy.

Case Report: Cytomegalovirus Reactivation and Pericarditis Following ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination Against SARS-CoV-2.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is ongoing and new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are emerging, there is an urgent need for vaccines to protect individuals at high risk for complications and to potentially control disease outbreaks by herd immunity. Surveillance of rare safety issues related to these vaccines is progressing, since more granular data emerge about adverse events of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines during post-marketing surveillance. Varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation has already been reported in COVID-19 patients. In addition, adverse events after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination have also been in the context of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation and directly associated with the mRNA vaccine. We present the first case of CMV reactivation and pericarditis in temporal association with SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, particularly adenovirus-based DNA vector vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 against SARS-CoV-2. After initiation of antiviral therapy with oral valganciclovir, CMV viremia disappeared and clinical symptoms rapidly improved. Since huge vaccination programs are ongoing worldwide, post-marketing surveillance systems must be in place to assess vaccine safety that is important for the detection of any events. In the context of the hundreds of millions of individuals to be vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2, a potential causal association with CMV reactivation may result in a considerable number of cases with potentially severe complications.

Predictive biomarkers for cytomegalovirus reactivation before and after immunosuppressive therapy: A single-institution retrospective long-term analysis of patients with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DiHS)/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome (DRESS).

OBJECTIVES: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation in patients with severe drug eruption on immunosuppressive therapy often leads to fulminant disease and even mortality, yet there are no biomarkers to accurately predict CMV reactivation either before or after immunosuppressive therapy. We aimed to assess whether patients who develop CMV reactivation (CMV-positive cases) have distinct immunological profiles from CMV-negative cases before and after immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: We performed serial cytokine/chemokine and regulatory T cells (Tregs) assessments of 45 patients with drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DiHS)/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic syndrome (DRESS) during a follow-up period of nearly three years after onset. RESULTS: Elevated IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-15, TNF-α, G-CSF, and MIP-1α levels at baseline were associated with later development of CMV reactivation, while after starting treatment, IL-10 and IL-15 levels were associated with the onset of CMV reactivation; the use of corticosteroids obscured the large differences in these cytokines at baseline. CMV-positive cases were found to have normal Tregs frequencies at baseline, while negative cases had elevated frequencies. Higher eotaxin, IL-10, and G-CSF levels and lower IL-12p40 levels at baseline might be used for predicting the development of lethal CMV disease. CONCLUSIONS: The algorithm based on these results showed an accurate association with CMV reactivation.

Tacrolimus trough levels higher than 6 ng/mL might not be required after a year in stable kidney transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding optimal tacrolimus (TAC) trough levels after 1 year post-transplant in stable kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) who have not experienced renal or cardiovascular outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 1-year post-transplant TAC trough levels on long-term renal and cardiovascular outcomes and opportunistic infections in stable KTRs. METHODS: KTRs receiving TAC with mycophenolate-based immunosuppression who did not experience renal or cardiovascular outcomes within 1 year post-transplant were enrolled from a multicenter observational cohort study. Renal outcome was defined as a composite of biopsy-proven acute rejection, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, and death-censored graft loss. Cardiovascular outcome was defined as a composite of de novo cardiomegaly, left ventricular hypertrophy, and cardiovascular events. Opportunistic infections were defined as the occurrence of BK virus or cytomegalovirus infections. RESULTS: A total of 603 eligible KTRs were divided into the low-level TAC (LL-TAC) and high-level TAC (HL-TAC) groups based on a median TAC level of 5.9 ng/mL (range 1.3-14.3) at 1 year post-transplant. The HL-TAC group had significantly higher TAC trough levels at 2, 3, 4, and 5 years compared with the levels of the LL-TAC group. During the mean follow-up of 63.7 ± 13.0 months, there were 121 renal outcomes and 224 cardiovascular outcomes. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, LL-TAC and HL-TAC were not independent risk factors for renal and cardiovascular outcomes, respectively. No significant differences in the development of opportunistic infections and de novo donor-specific anti-human leukocyte antigen antibodies and renal allograft function were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: TAC trough levels after 1 year post-transplant remained at a similar level until the fifth year after kidney transplantation and were not directly associated with long-term outcomes in stable Korean KTRs who did not experience renal or cardiovascular outcomes. Therefore, in Asian KTRs with a stable clinical course, TAC trough levels higher than approximately 6 ng/mL might not be required after a year of kidney transplantation.

Pharmacokinetics and Immunogenicity of ASP0113 in CMV-Seronegative Dialysis Patients and CMV-Seronegative and -Seropositive Healthy Subjects.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised transplant patients. ASP0113, a first-in-class DNA vaccine containing plasmids encoding CMV phosphoprotein 65 and glycoprotein B (gB), was evaluated in a phase 1b, subject-blinded study in CMV-seropositive (n = 13) and CMV-seronegative (n = 12) healthy and CMV-seronegative dialysis subjects (n = 12) randomized to ASP0113 or placebo. End points included pharmacokinetics, anti-gB antibody levels, phosphoprotein 65-specific T-cell responses measured by ex vivo enzyme-linked immune absorbent spot (ELISpot) assay and 10-day cultured ELISpot and Stat T-cell activation assays, and safety. ASP0113 concentrations peaked at 2-10 and 24-48 hours; the pharmacokinetics were similar across groups. No group demonstrated significant anti-gB antibody responses. T-cell responder rates in the cultured ELISpot assay were 8/12 (66.7%, 95%CI 35% to 90%) and 4/12 (33.3%, 95%CI 10% to 65%) in CMV-seronegative healthy subjects and dialysis patients, respectively, whereas ex vivo ELISpot assay response rates were 4/11 (36.4%, 95%CI 11% to 69%) and 0/12, respectively. Responses peaked at week 27, with lower magnitude observed in CMV-seronegative dialysis patients versus CMV-seronegative healthy subjects. No serious adverse events occurred; the most common adverse event in ASP0113-vaccinated patients was injection-site pain (64.9%). Some CMV-seronegative healthy subjects and dialysis patients had T-cell responses; no humoral responses were detected.

Rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) versus IL-2 receptor antagonist induction therapies in tacrolimus-based immunosuppression era: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this meta-analysis is to explore the effect of IL-2RA vs rATG on the rate of acute rejection, post-transplant infections, and graft as well as patient's survival in standard- and high-risk renal transplant patients receiving tacrolimus-based maintenance immunotherapy. METHODS: Random effects model was the method used for identifying risk difference. Confidence interval including the value 1 was used as evidence for statistically significant risk difference. Heterogeneity was assessed using Der Simonian analysis. Heterogeneity was evident at the level of P value < 0.1 RESULTS: The random effects model showed no significant differences in both acute rejection rates between IL-2RA and rATG induction therapies with relative risk of 1.24 graft survival with relative risk 0.90. Patient survival also did not demonstrate any significant difference with a relative risk of 1.19. Random effects for CMV infection showed a lesser tendency for CMV infection in IL-2RA group compared to ATG group the with a relative risk of 0.73.In subgroup analysis, the random effects model for acute rejection rates in high-risk transplants showed a higher risk of acute rejection in the IL-2RA group compared to rATG (relative risk equals 1.55) In standard-risk transplants, there were no significant differences between both groups with relative risk equals 1.02 CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in patient and graft survival when using IL-2RA vs rATG with the tacrolimus-based maintenance immunosuppression era. However, subgroup analysis showed less incidence of rejection in high-risk renal transplant recipient's population using rATG compared to IL-2RA.

Alemtuzumab induction for retransplantation after primary transplant with alemtuzumab induction
.

BACKGROUND: Lymphocyte-depleting induction with alemtuzumab (ALEM) or rabbit antithymocyte-globulin (rATG) is commonly used at retransplantation. It is unknown which agent is preferable, particularly when ALEM was used at primary transplant. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate outcomes after ALEM at retransplant following primary transplant with ALEM induction (ALEM-ALEM) as compared to retransplant with rATG (ALEM-rATG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-center, observational cohort study of adult patients receiving kidney or pancreas transplant between January 1, 2001 and December 12, 2016. RESULTS: 45 patients (16 ALEM-ALEM and 29 ALEM-rATG) met inclusion criteria. The ALEM-ALEM group had fewer days between transplants (621.0 ± 821.8 vs. 2,024.4 ± 1,285.8, p = 0.049), lower panel-reactive-antibodies (PRA) prior to transplant 2 (15.7 ± 31.5 vs. 53.2 ± 37.8; p = 0.0003), and more pancreas secondary transplants, although this was not statistically significant (ALEM-ALEM 37.5% vs. ALEM-rATG 10.3%, p = 0.05). The ALEM-ALEM group experienced a significantly higher rate of fungal infection (ALEM-ALEM 46.8% vs. ALEM-rATG 11.3%, p = 0.02). When adjusted in a multivariate model, this trend persisted (HR 3.97, CI 0.95 - 16.5, p = 0.05). A subgroup analysis of patients receiving a kidney for both transplant 1 and 2 to remove the possible confounding effect of pancreas allografts also found incidence of fungal infection at 1 year to be significantly higher in the ALEM-ALEM group (ALEM-ALEM 25% vs. ALEM-rATG 9.3%, p = 0.025). Rejection rates were not different between groups at 1 year (ALEM-ALEM 25% vs. ALEM-rATG 24.2%). Rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, BK polyomavirus infection, patient and graft survival were also similar. CONCLUSION: Patients with repeat courses of ALEM induction across multiple transplants may have a higher incidence of fungal infection. Future studies are needed to explore this risk, particularly in light of current drug manufacturer allocation practices and potential increased utilization by transplant centers.

Disseminated cytomegalovirus disease after bendamustine: a case report and analysis of circulating B- and T-cell subsets.

BACKGROUND: Bendamustine, used for the treatment of indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is known to cause prolonged myelosuppression and lymphocytopenia and has been associated with the risk of developing serious and fatal infections. While reports of localized CMV infections in asymptomatic patients exist, disseminated CMV disease has not been described. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the first case of disseminated CMV infection in a 75-year-old male diagnosed with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinemia with massive bone marrow infiltration. Despite 6-cycle R-bendamustine chemotherapy resulted in a good partial response, the patient developed persistent fever and severe weight loss. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood revealed the presence of CMV-DNA, while the fundus oculi examination revealed bilateral CMV retinitis. Treatment with induction and maintenance drugs was complicated by neutropenia and deterioration of renal function with electrolyte imbalance. From an immunological standpoint, we observed a profound imbalances in phenotype and function of B- and T-cell subsets, with a high proportion of circulating total, activated CD69+ and CD80+ B-cells, a low γ/δ T-cell frequency with a high proportion of CD69- and CD38-expressing cells, and hyperactivated/exhausted CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell phenotypes unable to face CMV challenge. CONCLUSIONS: We hereby describe a severe form of disseminated CMV disease after R-bendamustine treatment. Our observations strongly support the careful clinical monitoring of CMV reactivation/infection in oncologic patients undergoing this therapeutic regimen.