Publications by authors named "Gundula Jaeger"
Purpose: BK-virus and JC-virus are the most common polyomaviridae associated with hemorrhagic cystitis in the allogeneic transplant setting. Hemorrhagic cystitis and symptomatic viruria caused by these viruses are a major cause of morbidity in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Methods: We performed a retrospective evaluation on a highly uniform study population of 73 patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation.
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) causes epidemic infections in regions of poor hygiene in the developing world. Over the last years, however, increasing numbers of autochthonous infections in industrialized countries have been described, leading to new interest in this pathogen. Currently available serological test formats to detect IgG and IgM antibodies are mainly based on bacterially expressed ORF2 and ORF3 antigens and often give ambiguous results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Varicella-Zoster virus causes chickenpox upon primary infection and shingles after reactivation. Currently available serological tests to detect VZV-specific antibodies are exclusively based on antigens derived from VZV-infected cells.
Results: We present a systematic approach for the identification of novel, serologically reactive VZV antigens.
Article Synopsis
- A 54-year-old immunocompetent German patient was diagnosed with primary varicella (chickenpox) and showed early T-cell responses to the Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) before developing antibodies.
- The case highlights the importance of detecting VZV-specific T-cells as a diagnostic tool for primary varicella, especially in atypical or mild cases.
- This method can be particularly useful when VZV DNA is not detectable in the patient's plasma.
Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a life-threatening complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. PTLD is efficiently prevented by adoptive transfer of EBV-specific T cells from the donor. To make EBV-specific T cells available in urgent clinical situations, we developed a rapid protocol for their isolation by overnight stimulation of donor blood cells with peptides derived from 11 EBV antigens, interferon-gamma surface capture, and immunomagnetic separation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after renal transplantation is a problem of increasing concern resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Widespread use of ganciclovir (GCV) and valganciclovir (VGCV) may cause an increase of CMV resistance to these first line drugs. Other treatment options are sparse and often complicated by adverse events, namely nephrotoxicity associated with foscarnet and cidofovir.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- CMV positive patients who receive bone marrow from CMV negative donors face a notably greater risk of developing serious CMV disease, as highlighted by a case study of severe CMV esophagitis following a transplant.
- The patient began showing symptoms of esophagitis between days 10 and 20 post-transplant, confirmed by positive CMV DNA tests from biopsies and blood samples.
- Despite initial antiviral treatments clearing CMV from the blood, significant clinical improvement didn't occur until the patient's immunosuppressant medication, cyclosporine, was reduced at day +120, which allowed for the recovery of CMV-specific T-cells and resolution of symptoms.
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), the causative agent of exanthema subitum in childhood, can also induce meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. In contrast, HHV-6 encephalitis in immunocompetent patients is rare, and the clinical syndrome not well defined. We report a case of meningoencephalitis caused by HHV-6 type B in an otherwise healthy woman.
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- * Out of these, 11 kids exhibited ongoing symptoms similar to mononucleosis years after their surgeries, while most of the 14 asymptomatic children had undetectable levels of EBV DNA.
- * One child with chronic symptoms developed a serious lymphoma linked to EBV after the transplant, indicating that high levels of EBV in blood could signal increased risk for significant post-transplant issues.