Positive Pre-Transplant Respiratory Viral PCR is Associated with
Increased Day 100 Transplant-Related Mortality in Pediatric HSCT
Recipients.
Abstract
Background: Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) is a
curative procedure for many life-threatening hematological indications.
Respiratory viral infections (RVI) cause substantial morbidity and
mortality in pediatric transplant recipients, but the impact of
mild/asymptomatic RVI is unclear. Some studies have identified certain
viral infections as high-risk for post-transplant complications. To
reduce transplant morbidity, a pre-transplant RVI screening program was
started at Children’s National Hospital which included symptom screening
and respiratory viral (RV) PCR testing for each HSCT patient within one
week of and on the day of HSCT admission. The objective of this study
was to evaluate the impact of RVI on HSCT outcomes. Methods: A
retrospective review of pre-transplant RV PCR, symptom screening, and
clinical outcomes was done for patients receiving allogeneic HSCT from
7/1/2016 to 3/31/2023. Exclusion criteria included missing
pre-transplant RV PCR and SCID to prevent bias. Results: 161
patients were eligible to be included. Of the 161, 34 tested positive
for RVs (26 low-risk, 8 high-risk). Outcomes were initially analyzed
separately by low- and high-risk viruses. Within the first 100 days
post-transplant, a positive pre-HSCT RVI was significantly associated
with increased mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 5.57, p = 0.04 after
adjusting for multiple testing) and requirement for ICU transfer (OR =
3.45, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Routine pre-transplant viral
testing should be performed to increase the safety of HSCTs.
Pre-transplant viral testing may allow providers to know when to monitor
certain patients more closely post-transplant, and when to potentially
delay elective transplant until the patient has cleared their virus.