title: The clinical impact of coronavirus infection in patients with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Compared to other respiratory viruses, relatively little is known about the clinical impact of coronavirus (CoV) infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) or in patients with hematologic malignancies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the role of CoV in respiratory tract infections among HSCT and hematologic malignancy patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective review of all cases of CoV infection documented by polymerase chain reaction, (PCR)-based testing on nasopharyngeal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples between June 2010 and 2013. Cases of CoV infection occurring in HSCT and hematologic malignancy patients were identified and the clinical characteristics of these cases were compared to other respiratory viruses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CoV was identified in 2.6% (n=43) of all samples analyzed (n=1661) and in 6.8% of all samples testing positive for a respiratory virus (n=631). 33 of 38 (86.8%) of patients in whom CoV was identified were HSCT and hematologic malignancy patients. Among these patients, CoV was detected in 9.7% of unique infection episodes, with only rhinovirus/enterovirus (RhV/EnV) infection being more common. Group I CoV subtypes accounted for 76.3% of cases, and 57% of infections were diagnosed between December and March. CoV infection was associated with upper respiratory tract symptoms in most patients, similar to other respiratory viruses. Possible and proven lower respiratory tract disease was less common compared to other respiratory viruses except RhV/EnV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CoV is frequently detected in HSCT and hematologic malignancy patients in whom suspicion for a respiratory viral infection exists, but is less likely to progress to lower respiratory tract disease than most other respiratory viruses.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Mail Code L457, 97239 Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: hakki@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Morgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hakki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Rogan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rattray
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Press
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000821:virology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Coronavirus; Hematologic malignancy; Hematopoietic stem cell transplant; Respiratory virus