title: Cytomegalovirus infection associated with and preceding chronic graft-versus-host disease.
abstract: Of 68 consecutive allogeneic bone marrow transplant patients, 53 survived more than three months after transplantation. Twenty-two (42%) developed chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Chronic GVHD was more common among patients who had previously experienced cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (20/36, 56%) than among those without signs of active CMV infection (2/17, 12%) (P less than 0.01). The CMV infections preceded the development of chronic GVHD by a median of 128 days (range 23-322 days). Children below 14 years of age who had had CMV infection developed chronic GVHD as often as older patients (8/14 vs. 12/22). CMV infection may pave the way for chronic GVHD.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000628:therapy; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005776:Gaucher Disease / Q000628:therapy; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D008727:Methotrexate