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Post-Transplant Complications

Pre-emptive therapy with rituximab for prevention of Epstein–Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 31, pages 1023–1025 (2003)Cite this article

Summary:

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is a life-threatening complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Therefore, early diagnosis of EBV reactivation and pre-emptive therapy may be clinically useful. We report three patients who presented with an extremely high EBV load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma without evidence of EBV disease. Following pre-emptive therapy with a single dose of rituximab, a concordant decrease of EBV-genome copies and B lymphocytes was observed. In all three patients, no EBV-associated LPD occurred. We conclude that pre-emptive therapy with rituximab appears to be effective for prevention of EBV-associated LPD after HSCT.

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Acknowledgements

We greatly appreciate the information retrieval and data analysis services of Isabella Schiller and Ilona Wolf. The excellent technical assistance of Doris Glaser and Sabine Becker is gratefully acknowledged. The nurses and physicians of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit are thanked for their conscientious care of patients and their dedicated assistance in obtaining patient samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

    B Gruhn, R Häfer & F Zintl

  2. Institute for Antiviral Chemotherapy, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

    A Meerbach & P Wutzler

  3. Institute of Virology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

    R Zell

Authors
  1. B Gruhn
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  2. A Meerbach
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  3. R Häfer
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  4. R Zell
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  5. P Wutzler
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  6. F Zintl
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Gruhn, B., Meerbach, A., Häfer, R. et al. Pre-emptive therapy with rituximab for prevention of Epstein–Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 31, 1023–1025 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1704061

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