Predictors of breakthrough clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection during letermovir prophylaxis in high-risk hematopoietic cell transplant recipients

Abstract

Letermovir prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients significantly reduces the incidence of clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection. However, breakthrough infections still occur despite adequate prophylaxis. In the present retrospective cohort study, we identified clinically relevant predictive factors for clinically significant CMV breakthrough infection during letermovir prophylaxis. Low-grade CMV replication (21-149 IU/ml), both at the time of letermovir initiation or during prophylaxis, was a significant risk factor for breakthrough clinically significant CMV infection. In addition, development of acute gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease was significantly associated with breakthrough infection. Altogether these findings could call clinicians' attention to closer CMV monitoring and allow for prompt preemptive treatment initiation.

Keywords: allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients; breakthrough infection; cytomegalovirus (CMV); letermovir; prophylaxis; risk factors.