Norovirus infection in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: incidence, risk factors and outcome
Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 07/25/2012
Robles JDF et al. – Risk factors for norovirus infection included use of peripheral blood or cord blood as stem cell source, and use of fludarabine or alemtuzumab. The median time to viral clearance was 145days. The 4–year survival of norovirus–infected patients was similar to non–infected patients.
- Among 55 patients younger than 21years old who had their first HSCT in Jul 2007-Jun 2011, 49 patients developed diarrhea and had stool tested for norovirus.
- Eight patients were found to be infected with norovirus.
- All were sporadic cases and manifested with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
- The median age of these patients was 5.2years (range: 0.5-18.5years).
- Six were males.
- Seven patients underwent unrelated donor HSCT and 1 patient underwent autologous cord blood transplantation.
- Two patients had norovirus infection before HSCT that persisted after transplantation.
- In the remaining 6 patients, norovirus developed at a median of 36.5days post-transplant (range: 5-517days).
- The cumulative incidence of norovirus infection was 12.9% at 2years post-transplant.
