Features of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) reactivation after reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) unrelated umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT)

Overall, this study shows the rate of EBV reactivation after RIC UCBT to be relatively low (15%) and this is comparable to the incidence expected with PBSC or BM unrelated mismatched transplants. However, close EBV monitoring and the use of pre-emptive rituximab treatment appears to be mandatory since some cases may progress to LPD requiring additional interventions such as EBV-specific CTLs.