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OBJECTIVES: To establish rates of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission with use of CMV-unselected (CMV-U), leukocyte-reduced blood components transfused to CMV-seronegative patient/CMV-seronegative donor (CMV neg/neg) allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients including those receiving T-depleted grafts. BACKGROUND: CMV infection remains a major cause of morbidity following SCT. CMV-seronegative SCT recipients are particularly at risk of transfusion transmitted CMV (TT-CMV) and until recently they have received blood components from CMV-seronegative donors with significant resource implications. Although leukocyte reduction of blood components is reported to minimise risk of TT-CMV, its efficacy in high-risk situations, such as in T-depleted transplant recipients, is unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed the incidence of TT-CMV in CMV neg/neg allogeneic SCT recipients transfused with CMV-U, leukocyte-reduced blood components in two transplantation centres in the UK. Patients were monitored for CMV infection by weekly CMV polymerase chain reaction testing. Leukocyte reduction of blood components was in accordance with current UK standards. RESULTS: Among 76 patients, including 59 receiving in vivo T-depletion, no episodes of CMV infection were detected. Patients were transfused with 1442 CMV-unselected, leukocyte-reduced components, equating to 1862 donor exposures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the safety of leukocyte reduction as a strategy in preventing TT-CMV in high-risk allogeneic SCT recipients.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/tme.12219

Type

Journal article

Journal

Transfus Med

Publication Date

12/2015

Volume

25

Pages

418 - 423

Keywords

T-cell depletion, allogeneic stem cell transplant, cytomegalovirus, leukocyte reduction, transfusion, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Allografts, Cytomegalovirus, Cytomegalovirus Infections, Humans, Lymphocyte Depletion, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Stem Cell Transplantation, United Kingdom