Risk factors for post‐transplant Epstein‐Barr virus events in pediatric recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplants

Background Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause severe disease following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), including post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). The objective was to analyze risk factors associated with post-transplant EBV outcomes among pediatric allogeneic HSCT recipients. Methods We used data from 156 pediatric allogeneic HSCT recipients enrolled in the Canadian multicenter TREASuRE study. Cox and Prentice-Williams-Petersen models were used to analyze risk factors for post-transplant EBV events including occurrence and recurrence of EBV DNAemia, increase in EBV viral load (EBV-VL), and preemptive use of rituximab, an effective therapy against PTLD. Results Females were at higher risk for increasing EBV-VL (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2.83 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.33-6.03]) and rituximab use (HR = 3.08 [1.14-8.30]), but had the same EBV DNAemia occurrence (HR = 1.21 [0.74-1.99]) and recurrence risks (HR=1.05 [0.70-1.58]) compared to males. EBV DNAemia was associated with recipient pre-transplant EBV seropositivity (HR = 2.47 [1.17-5.21]) and with graft from an EBV-positive donor (HR = 3.53 [1.95-6.38]). Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) was strongly associated with all EBV outcomes, including the use of rituximab (HR = 5.33 [1.47-19.40]). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) significantly decreased the risk of all EBV events including the rituximab use (HR = 0.13 [0.03-0.63]). Conclusion This study in pediatric allogeneic HSCT patients reveals a reduced risk of all EBV outcomes with the use of MMF. Risk factors for EBV events such as EBV-VL occurrence and recurrence include EBV positivity in the donor and recipient, and use of ATG, whereas risk factors for the most severe forms of EBV outcome (EBV-VL and the use of rituximab) include female sex and ATG use.