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Cytomegalovirus Pneumonia in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases After Immunosuppressive Therapy: A Single Center Study in China.
- Source :
-
Chinese medical journal [Chin Med J (Engl)] 2016 Feb 05; Vol. 129 (3), pp. 267-73. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Background: Rheumatic diseases involve multiple organs that are affected by immunological mechanisms. Treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents may also increase the frequency of infection. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a widespread herpes virus and a well-recognized pathogen, which causes an opportunistic and potentially fatal infection in immunocompromised patients. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of CMV pneumonia in patients with rheumatic diseases after immunosuppressive therapy in a single center in Shanghai, China.<br />Methods: Eight hundred and thirty-four patients with rheumatic diseases who had undergone CMV-DNA viral load tests were included, and the medical records of 142 patients who were positive for CMV-DNA in plasma samples were evaluated. GraphPad Prism version 5.013 (San Diego, CA, USA) was used to conduct statistical analysis. The correlation between CMV-DNA viral loads and lymphocyte counts was assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient test. Significance between qualitative data was analyzed using Pearson's Chi-squared test. The cut-off thresholds for CMV-DNA viral load and lymphocyte count were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.<br />Results: One hundred and forty-two patients had positive CMV viral load tests. Of these 142 patients, 73 patients with CMV pneumonia were regarded as symptomatic, and the other 69 were asymptomatic. The symptomatic group received higher doses of prednisolone (PSL) and more frequently immunosuppressants than the asymptomatic group (P < 0.01). The symptomatic group had lower lymphocyte counts, especially CD4+ T-cells, than the asymptomatic group (P < 0.01). By ROC curve analysis, when CD4+ T-cell count was <0.39 × 109/L, patients with rheumatic diseases were at high risk for symptomatic CMV infection. The CMV-DNA load was significantly higher in the symptomatic patients than that in asymptomatic patients (P < 0.01; threshold viral loads: 1.75 × 104 copies/ml). Seven patients had a fatal outcome, and they had lower peripheral lymphocyte counts (P < 0.01), including CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells (P < 0.01).<br />Conclusions: When CD4+ T-cell count is <0.39 × 109/L, patients are at high risk for pulmonary CMV infection. Patients are prone to be symptomatic with CMV-DNA load >1.75 × 104 copies/ml. Lymphopenia (especially CD4+ T-cells), presence of symptoms, and other infections, especially fungal infection, are significant risk factors for poor outcome, and a higher PSL dosage combined with immunosuppressants may predict CMV pneumonia.
- Subjects :
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes metabolism
China
Cytomegalovirus Infections genetics
Cytomegalovirus Infections immunology
Humans
Pneumonia genetics
Pneumonia immunology
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Retrospective Studies
Rheumatic Diseases genetics
Rheumatic Diseases immunology
Viral Load
Cytomegalovirus pathogenicity
Cytomegalovirus Infections therapy
Cytomegalovirus Infections virology
Immunosuppression Therapy methods
Pneumonia therapy
Pneumonia virology
Rheumatic Diseases therapy
Rheumatic Diseases virology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2542-5641
- Volume :
- 129
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Chinese medical journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26831226
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.4103/0366-6999.174490