Roy F. Chemaly, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA

Cytomegalovirus infection occurs among approximately 40% of cytomegalovirus-seropositive patients within the first 100 days following hematopoietic stem cell transplant and is associated with high morbidity and high mortality among HSCT recipients.

Due to advances in diagnostic methods and the development of preventive or pre-emptive strategies, the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or HSCT, has fallen to 8% to 10% in the past decade. Yet, while the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease in HSCT recipients has improved, the indirect effects of cytomegalovirus still cause significant morbidity and mortality, and virus reactivation remains a risk factor for poor posttransplant outcomes.

Due to advances in diagnostic methods and the development of preventive or pre-emptive strategies, the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease after hematopoietic cell transplantation, or HCT, has fallen to 8% to 10% in the past decade. Yet, while the incidence of cytomegalovirus disease in HCT patients has improved, the indirect effects of cytomegalovirus still cause significant morbidity and mortality, and virus reactivation remains a risk factor for poor post-transplant outcomes.