High incidence of herpes zoster in nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Although the use of nonmyeloablative (NMA) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) regimens has expanded in the past decade, little data exist to support antiviral prophylaxis to prevent herpes zoster (HZ) in recipients who are seropositive for varicella-zoster virus in this population. The present study examined the clinical features, incidence, and risk factors for HZ in a homogeneous cohort of NMA allogeneic HSCT recipients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study assessing all patients who underwent sibling NMA HSCT at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (Montreal) between July 2000 and December 2008. All patients received the same conditioning regimen, immunoprophylaxis, and graft-versus-host disease therapy. The diagnosis of HZ was defined clinically. Factors associated with HZ were identified using a Cox proportional hazards model. A total of 179 patients were followed for a median of 33 months (interquartile range, 21-59). HZ developed in 66 patients (37%) at a median of 8.3 months post-HSCT; the incidence rate was 175 cases/1000 person-years. The estimated cumulative HZ incidence was 27% at 1 year, 36% at 2 years, and 44% at 3 years. Thoracic dermatomes were most frequently involved (30%); dissemination occurred in 5 patients. No deaths resulted from HZ, but 23% of patients developed postherpetic neuralgia. In multivariate analysis, reactivation of cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus was associated with a reduced likelihood of HZ (hazard ratio, 0.54 and 0.33, respectively). Antiviral prophylaxis or treatment for cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus reactivations were protective against HZ. The incidence of HZ in our cohort of NMA HSCT recipients is similar to the incidence reported in HSCT recipients who received a myeloablative conditioning regimen. Given the observed high risk, we conclude that recommendations for antiviral prophylaxis should apply, at least for the first year, to the NMA HSCT population as well.
Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Shih Hann
SH
Su
Valérie
V
Martel-Laferrière
Annie-Claude
AC
Labbé
David R
DR
Snydman
David
D
Kent
Michel
M
Laverdière
Claire
C
Béliveau
Tanya
T
Logvinenko
Sandra
S
Cohen
Silvy
S
Lachance
Thomas
T
Kiss
Jean
J
Roy
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000453:epidemiology; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D035781:Siblings; D019172:Transplantation Conditioning; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D014775:Virus Activation
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine