Objective: Viral infection, especially caused by herpes viruses, is now recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised cancer patients. This study aimed at studying seroprevalence of 3 herpes viruses Herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV 1 and 2), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Methods: We conducted this study on 68 newly diagnosed pediatric patients with ALL presented to the Pediatric Oncology Service of National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt from November 2001 to June 2003. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in detecting HSV 1 and 2, CMV, EBV antibodies of both types immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG detection of DNA for both CMV and EBV by polymerase chain reaction was carried out.
Results: High seroprevalence of HSV-1 and 2, CMV and EBV IgG antibodies in both leukemic children and their control was observed (69%, 100%, 83%) and (80%, 100%, 95%). Significantly higher percentage of HSV-1 and 2 IgM or reactivated infection was found among leukemic children 17/68 (25%) compared with normal control 0%. Analysis showed that prevalence of HSV 1 and 2 IgG increased from 18/33 (54%) in children <5 years to 11/13 (77%) in children >10 years, and reactivation of HSV-1 and 2 increased with increasing age from 1/33 (3%) in children <5 years to 4/13 (30%) in children >10 year. This was in contrast to seroprevalence of CMV and EBV IgG which were 100% and 83% in children <5 years. No difference in seroprevalence was found among both gender, and no difference was found in leukemic patients with granulocytopenia.
Conclusion: The data show a higher exposure to HSV-1 and 2 both primary infections and reactivation among ALL children. Therefore, acyclovir prophylaxis could be highly effective for seropositive leukemic patients who are undergoing induction chemotherapy.
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CNS Drugs
January 2025
School of Medicine and Dentistry, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia.
Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is implicated as a necessary factor in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS) and may also be a driver of disease activity. Although it is not clear whether ongoing viral replication is the driver for MS pathology, MS researchers have considered the prospect of using drugs with potential efficacy against EBV in the treatment of MS. We have undertaken scientific and lived experience expert panel reviews to shortlist existing licensed therapies that could be used in later-stage clinical trials in MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Department of Microbiology, Virology, and Immunology, I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, 46001 Ternopil, Ukraine.
Metformin, a widely used antidiabetic medication, has emerged as a promising broad-spectrum antiviral agent due to its ability to modulate cellular pathways essential for viral replication. By activating AMPK, metformin depletes cellular energy reserves that viruses rely on, effectively limiting the replication of pathogens such as influenza, HIV, SARS-CoV-2, HBV, and HCV. Its role in inhibiting the mTOR pathway, crucial for viral protein synthesis and reactivation, is particularly significant in managing infections caused by HIV, CMV, and EBV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
December 2024
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA.
Though antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are required for hospitals, the involvement of transplant recipients in programmatic interventions, protocols, and metrics has historically been limited. Though there is a growing interest in studying stewardship practices in transplant patients, optimal practices have not been clearly established. A component of ASPs, antiviral stewardship (AVS), specifically targeting cytomegalovirus (CMV), has been more recently described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
December 2024
Center for Viral Surveillance and Serological Evaluation (CeVIVAs), Butantan Institute, São Paulo 05585-000, SP, Brazil.
Viral infections are one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Immunosuppression may lead to the reactivation of latent viruses or the acquisition of new infections, resulting in severe clinical outcomes. The early detection of viral reactivations is crucial for effective patient management and post-transplant care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFmedRxiv
December 2024
Program in Immunology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) that is relapsed and/or refractory post-allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is usually fatal. In a prior study, we demonstrated that AML relapse in high-risk patients was prevented by post-HCT immunotherapy with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific donor CD8 T cells engineered to express a high-affinity Wilms Tumor Antigen 1 (WT1)-specific T-cell receptor (T). However, in the present study, infusion of EBV- or Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T did not clearly improve outcomes in fifteen patients with active disease post-HCT.
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