Prospective evaluation of epstein-barr virus reactivation after stem cell transplantation: association with monoclonal gammopathy

J Clin Immunol. 2010 Nov;30(6):894-902. doi: 10.1007/s10875-010-9454-x. Epub 2010 Aug 25.

Abstract

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) reactivation and EBV-related post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) have emerged as a severe complication after stem cell transplantation (SCT). We prospectively evaluated 104 consecutive patients receiving SCT either autologous or allogeneic. Fifty-two patients (50%) presented EBV DNA-emia and five of them developed PTLD proven or probable. PTLD rate was 9.6% among patients with EBV DNA-emia. One patient developed PTLD without EBV DNA-emia (0.96%). Overall PTLD incidence was 5.7%. No PTLD developed after autologous SCT. EBV DNA-emia was significantly more frequent after allogeneic than autologous SCT (60.7% vs 17.4%, p = 0.0002). At EBV reactivation, serum protein electrophoresis and immunofixation were assessed. Global incidence of γ-peak after allogeneic SCT with EBV reactivation was 65.3% (32/49 patients) and monoclonal gammopathy (MG) was identified in 23/28 evaluable patients (82%). All patients with PTLD developed γ-peak and in five of them MG was identified. MG is consistently associated with EBV DNA-emia and may help identification of progression to PTLD after allogeneic SCT.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / immunology
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / etiology*
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paraproteinemias / epidemiology*
  • Paraproteinemias / immunology
  • Paraproteinemias / virology
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Viral Load
  • Virus Activation*