Algorithm based on CMV kinetics DNA viral load for preemptive therapy initiation after hematopoietic cell transplantation

Overview & Synopsis

Preemptive therapy in hematopoietic cell transplantation is initiated by a diagnostic technique at first detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV). The aim of this study was to use the viral dynamics of CMV DNA viral to start preemptive therapy, and to prospectively compare the CMV viral load kinetics to pp65 antigenemia. 263 blood samples were prospectively collected from 93 patients. All clinical decisions regarding use of preemptive therapy were based on CMV antigenemia. Based on the positivity of the antigen assay and clinical CMV outcome in allotransplant patients, an optimal threshold of 3.05 log10 (1130 copies/ml) was found to discriminate patients who required preemptive therapy and those who did not (sensitivity, 71%; specificity, 65%). A DNAemia level increase of 2.24 log10 (174 copies/ml) per day was the optimal threshold to discriminate between patients who required preemptive therapy and those who did not (sensitivity, 93%; specificity, 43%). Sensitivity of PCR assay was 92.4% compared with 39% for the antigen assay (p