Cell-mediated immunity to predict cytomegalovirus disease in high-risk solid organ transplant recipients

Am J Transplant. 2009 May;9(5):1214-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2009.02618.x.

Abstract

Late-onset cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease commonly occurs after discontinuation of antiviral prophylaxis. We determined the utility of testing CD8+ T-cell response against CMV as a predictor of late-onset CMV disease after a standard course of antiviral prophylaxis. Transplant patients at high-risk for CMV disease were enrolled. CD8+ T-cell-mediated immunity (CMI) was tested using the QuantiFERON-CMV assay at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 months posttransplant by measurement of interferon-gamma response to whole blood stimulation with a 21-peptide pool. The primary outcome was the ability of CMI testing to predict CMV disease in the first 6 months posttransplant. There were 108 evaluable patients (D+/R+ n = 39; D-/R+ n = 34; D+/R- n = 35) of whom 18 (16.7%) developed symptomatic CMV disease. At the end of prophylaxis, CMI was detectable in 38/108 (35.2%) patients (cutoff 0.1 IU/mL interferon-gamma). CMV disease occurred in 2/38 (5.3%) patients with a detectable interferon-gamma response versus 16/70 (22.9%) patients with a negative response; p = 0.038. In the subgroup of D+/R- patients, CMV disease occurred in 1/10 (10.0%) patients with a detectable interferon-gamma response (cutoff 0.1 IU/mL) versus 10/25 (40.0%) patients with a negative CMI, p = 0.12. Monitoring of CMI may be useful for predicting late-onset CMV disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antilymphocyte Serum / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / immunology*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular* / drug effects
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Kidney Transplantation / immunology
  • Liver Transplantation / immunology
  • Lung Transplantation / immunology
  • Pancreas Transplantation / immunology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Risk Factors
  • Transplantation Immunology*

Substances

  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Interferon-gamma