Automated quantification of Epstein-Barr virus in whole blood for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders monitoring.

Background: Standardized and sensitive assays for Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) are needed to define universal cutoff for treatment initiation in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplant recipients. In a context of accreditation and the availability of EBV international standard, we evaluated the Abbott RealTime EBV (RT) assay for EBV quantification in whole blood.

Methods: The RT assay was compared on 282 prospective clinical samples with the Artus EBV PCR Kit V1 assay (V1) and we analyzed the kinetics of EBV load in 11 patients receiving rituximab treatment.

Automated quantification of Epstein-Barr Virus in whole blood of hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients using the Abbott m2000 system.

Background: Accurate quantification of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) load in blood is essential for the management of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders. The automation of DNA extraction and amplification may improve accuracy and reproducibility. We evaluated the EBV PCR Kit V1 with fully automated DNA extraction and amplification on the m2000 system (Abbott assay).

First HSV-1 non primary genital herpes in two patients.

First HSV-1 genital episodes in HSV-2 infected patients however, had never been demonstrated until the 2 cases we observed. This scarcity could reflect the lower impact of HSV-2 on western populations but questions the existence of cross-protection between viral types.

Evaluation of a New Device for Simplifying and Standardizing Stool Sample Preparation for Viral Molecular Testing with Limited Hands-On Time.

Sensitive molecular assays have greatly improved the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis. However, the proper preparation of stool samples for clinical testing remains an issue. bioMérieux has developed a stool preprocessing device (SPD) that includes a spoon for calibrated sampling and a vial containing buffer, glass beads, and two filters.

Favorable impact of natural killer cell reconstitution on chronic graft-versus-host disease and cytomegalovirus reactivation after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Natural killer cells are the first lymphocyte subset to reconstitute, and play a major role in early immunity after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cells expressing the activating receptor NKG2C seem crucial in the resolution of cytomegalovirus episodes, even in the absence of T cells. We prospectively investigated natural killer-cell reconstitution in a cohort of 439 adult recipients who underwent non-T-cell-depleted allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between 2005 and 2012.

Assessment of the efficacy and safety of pre-emptive anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) therapy in HIV-infected patients with CMV viraemia.

A number of studies have demonstrated that cytomegalovirus (CMV) viraemia is a strong predictor for CMV end-organ disease (EOD) and death in HIV-infected patients. We assess the efficacy and safety of pre-emptive anti-CMV therapy (PACT) for preventing these events. We performed a retrospective study of all HIV-infected patients seen in our institution who had detectable CMV viraemia in 2007.

Broad-range PCR-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for detection and typing of adenovirus and other opportunistic viruses in stem cell transplant patients.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients are highly susceptible to viral infections. Follow-up after transplantation includes weekly screening using single, virus-specific real-time PCR tests, mainly for viruses in the families Herpesviridae and Adenoviridae that contribute to a high morbidity, especially in pediatric populations. The Abbott PLEX-ID platform combines broad-range PCR with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to enable the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens in a single assay.

Fully automated quantification of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in whole blood with the new sensitive Abbott RealTime CMV assay in the era of the CMV international standard.

Fully standardized reproducible and sensitive quantification assays for cytomegalovirus (CMV) are needed to better define thresholds for antiviral therapy initiation and interruption. We evaluated the newly released Abbott RealTime CMV assay for CMV quantification in whole blood (WB) that includes automated extraction and amplification (m2000 RealTime system). Sensitivity, accuracy, linearity, and intra- and interassay variability were validated in a WB matrix using Quality Control for Molecular Diagnostics (QCMD) panels and the WHO international standard (IS).

Prevalence of antibodies and RNA genome of hepatitis E virus in a cohort of French immunocompromised.

Background: Recently, cases of chronic hepatitis E have been identified in immunocompromised patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies and the persistence of HEV-RNA in sera of immunocompromised patients with regular follow-up at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France.

Study Design: 307 samples collected from 261 HIV-infected patients and 46 kidney transplant (KT)-patients were retrospectively tested for the presence of the following hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection markers: anti-HEV IgM antibodies, anti-HEV IgG antibodies, anti-HEV IgG avidity index, and HEV-RNA.

Confirmation of the low clinical effect of human herpesvirus-6 and -7 infections after renal transplantation.

Human herpesvirus-6 and -7 (HHV-6 and HHV-7) may lead to pathological manifestations in renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to investigate beta-herpesvirus infections in 50 adult kidney transplant recipients after transplantation to examine the effect, interactions, and pathogenic consequences of infection and the effect of immunosuppressive regimens and Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) prophylaxis with VACV. Beta-herpesviruses loads in the blood of 50 adult kidney transplant recipients over a 6-month period after transplantation and 198 blood donors were determined using polymerase chain reaction.

Varicella-zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immune responses in HIV-infected adults.

The incidence of herpes zoster remains high in HIV-infected patients despite the use of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). We wished to assess varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immune (CMI) responses in HIV-infected adults on cART. VZV-specific CMI responses were assessed using lymphocyte proliferative responses, cytokine production (IL-2, TNF-α, and IFN-γ), and interferon-γ ELISPOT assays in 103 HIV-infected adults and 30 healthy controls.

Risk factors for pneumonia in immunocompromised patients with influenza.

Background: Immunocompromised patients with influenza are at higher risk of pneumonia and death. However, risk factors for progression to pneumonia still need evaluation.

Methods: Retrospective study in immunocompromised patients with influenza-related respiratory infections.

Etiology of genital ulcer disease. A prospective study of 278 cases seen in an STD clinic in Paris.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to identify the causes and factors associated with genital ulcer disease (GUD) among patients attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Paris.

Methods: This study was a prospective investigation of GUD cases. Data were collected from 1995 to 2005.

MICA-129 genotype, soluble MICA, and anti-MICA antibodies as biomarkers of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

The MHC class I-related chain A (MICA) molecules exist as membrane-bound and soluble isoforms and are encoded by a polymorphic gene. Their genetic and phenotype characteristics have been studied in various pathologic settings but not in the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Here, we evaluated whether MICA-related features namely MICA-129 gene polymorphism, serum levels of soluble MICA (sMICA) and anti-MICA antibodies (MICA Abs) before and after HSCT could influence the incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) and relapse of their disease in 211 HLA-identical sibling pairs and in a subset of 116 recipients, respectively.

Polyomaviruses KI and WU in immunocompromised patients with respiratory disease.

Polyomaviruses KI (KIPyV) and WU (WUPyV) were recently identified, mainly in respiratory specimens from children. Among 200 patients with respiratory disorders admitted to Saint Louis Hospital, Paris, France, KIPyV was detected in 8% and WUPyV in 1%. KIPyV was significantly more frequent among human stem cell transplant patients (17.

An unusual bipolar primary herpes simplex virus 1 infection.

We describe an atypical primary HSV 1 genital infection with bilateral palmar involvement. Two routes of dissemination of HSV are discussed, self-inoculation and blood dissemination. This case highlights the role of HSV 1 in extragenital pustules in the context of sexually transmitted diseases.

Patterns of cytomegalovirus reactivation are associated with distinct evolutive profiles of immune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

T cell-mediated immunity is essential for the control of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Our aims were to identify patterns of CMV-specific immune responses associated with multiple or prolonged reactivations. We analyzed findings in 116 recipients during the course of infection or reactivation and latency.

An unusual CD56(bright) CD16(low) NK cell subset dominates the early posttransplant period following HLA-matched hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The expansion of the cytokine-producing CD56(bright) NK cell subset is a main feature of lymphocyte reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We investigated phenotypes and functions of CD56(bright) and CD56(dim) NK subsets from 43 HLA-matched non-T cell-depleted HSCT donor-recipient pairs. The early expansion of CD56(bright) NK cells gradually declined in the posttransplant period but still persisted for at least 1 year and was characterized by the emergence of an unusual CD56(bright)CD16(low) subset with an intermediate maturation profile.

Palivizumab treatment of respiratory syncytial virus infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Among 40 allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients who developed symptomatic respiratory syncytial virus infection, including 22 patients with lower respiratory tract infection, 19 received palivizumab (9 of whom had upper respiratory tract disease). Palivizumab did not prevent progression to lower respiratory infection and had no impact on the overall survival rate.

Failure of zanamivir therapy for pneumonia in a bone-marrow transplant recipient infected by a zanamivir-sensitive influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Influenza A viruses are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality after bone marrow transplantation. Here we report failure of inhaled zanamivir treatment in a bone-marrow transplant recipient with pneumonia caused by an influenza A (H1N1) virus, although the influenza viruses isolated from bronchoalveolar lavages before and after treatment were clearly found to be sensitive to zanamivir using cell-based and enzymatic assays. Subsequent oral treatment with oseltamivir allowed complete recovery.

Disseminated adenovirus infections after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: incidence, risk factors and outcome.

We analyzed the factors and outcome of patients with disseminated adenovirus infection (dAdV) after allogeneic hematopoeitic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Thirty patients with dAdV were identified among 620 allogeneic HSCT recipients. Primary diseases were leukemia (n=17), Fanconi anemia (n=12) or others (n=1).

Increased incidence of cytomegalovirus retinitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Six cases of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were diagnosed between 2002 and 2005 in our center, whereas only one case was diagnosed between 1985 and 2001. Cumulative incidence reaches 2.2%, whereas this complication has been rarely described after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.