The risk of early and late CMV DNAemia associated with Campath use in stem cell transplant recipients

The risks associated with in vivo and ex vivo use of Campath-1H and -1G in a cohort of 206 stem cell transplant recipients for human CMV (HCMV) DNAemia have been quantified. DNAemia showed a biphasic incidence pattern with an inflexion at day 60. The first phase had a linear risk rate for HCMV DNAemia of 0.3% per day, whereas the second phase had a substantially lower risk rate of 0.058% per day. In multivariable analyses, risk factors for early DNAemia were HCMV serostatus, radiotherapy-based conditioning and CD34 stem cell dose, with the use of in vivo Campath-1H having the most significant risk (hazards ratio = 3.68; 95% CI = 2.02-6.72; P < 0.001). Ex vivo use of Campath was not associated with an increased risk for HCMV DNAemia. Patients receiving either in vivo Campath-1H or -1G experienced HCMV DNAemia earlier (27 and 33 days, respectively) compared with patients receiving no Campath (time to DNAemia, 51 days; P = 0.0006). Multivariable analysis of risk factors for HCMV DNAemia occurring beyond 100 days after transplant were older age, acute GVHD > grade II and a lower CD34 stem cell dose, whereas Campath-1H use was not associated with late HCMV DNAemia. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2010) 45, 1212-1219; doi: 10.1038/bmt.2009.329; published online 7 December 2009