title: Risk factors and outcomes of cytomegalovirus viremia in cancer patients: a study from a medical center in northern Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a pathogen and can cause life-threatening infection in the patients with malignancies. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors and outcomes of CMV viremia in patients with malignancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected with retrospective analysis from adults suffering from CMV viremia with underlying malignancies. A total of 107 patients were enrolled in a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan from March 2008 to December 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 107 patients who suffered with CMV viremia with an overall mortality rate of 56.1% (60/107), 75 patients (70.1%) had solid organ malignancies and 32 (29.9%) had hematological malignancies. Mechanical ventilation (p=0.048), leukocytosis (p=0.004), and lack of appropriate early treatment (p=0.011) were independent predisposing factors associated with higher mortality rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMV viremia predicts high mortality rate in cancer patients, especially in those with mechanical ventilation, leukocytosis, and lack of appropriate early treatment. Appropriate early antiviral therapy is recommended to improve outcomes.
authors: Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Yung-Chih
authors: YC
authors: Wang
authors: Ning-Chi
authors: NC
authors: Wang
authors: Jung-Chung
authors: JC
authors: Lin
authors: Cherng-Lih
authors: CL
authors: Perng
authors: Kuo-Ming
authors: KM
authors: Yeh
authors: Ya-Sung
authors: YS
authors: Yang
authors: Chun-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Chiu
authors: Feng-Yee
authors: FY
authors: Chang