A longitudinal study of DNA and RNA viruses plasma detection in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Background: Viral infections are among the most common complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and can be associated with transient or sustained viremia. Besides viruses that are common causes of infection, metagenomics revealed the presence of several novel viruses and variants that are overlooked in clinical routine and represent potential sources of unrecognized systemic infections. Our aim was to describe the prevalence and the dynamics of 17 DNA and 3 RNA viral infections using (r(RT-)PCR) assays on plasma samples of adult allo-HSCT recipients over a one-year period after HSCT.
Methods: 109 adult patients that received a first allo-HSCT from 1st March 2017 to 31st January 2019 we included in this longitudinal observational monocentric cohort study. 17 DNA and 3 RNA viral species were screened with qualitative and/or quantitative r(RT)-PCR assays performed on plasma samples collected at five time-points (day 0 and 30 days, 3 months, 6 month..., ,