A prospective study comparing human metapneumovirus with other respiratory viruses in adults with hematologic malignancies and respiratory tract infections

J Infect Dis. 2005 Sep 15;192(6):1061-5. doi: 10.1086/432732. Epub 2005 Aug 12.

Abstract

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently described paramyxovirus associated with upper and lower respiratory-tract infection (URI and LRI, respectively). We conducted a prospective study of URI and LRI in adults with hematologic malignancies during a 4-year period. We retrospectively tested samples by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for hMPV and analyzed clinical data. Twenty-two (9%) of 251 episodes of respiratory infection tested positive for hMPV. Sixteen (73%) of the illnesses occurred in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients. Nine patients with hMPV developed LRI; 3 of these patients died. hMPV is a common cause of respiratory infections in adults with hematologic malignancies, with associated morbidity and mortality.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Metapneumovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Middle Aged
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / complications
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / mortality
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / virology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / complications
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / mortality
  • Respiratory Tract Infections / virology*