Human Parainfluenza Virus Infection after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Risk Factors, Management, Mortality, and Changes over Time

• Published in: Biology of blood and marrow transplantation Vol. 18; no. 10; pp. 1580 - 1588
• Main Authors: Ustun, Celalettin, Slabý, Jiří, Shanley, Ryan M, Vydra, Jan, Smith, Angela R, Wagner, John E, Weisdorf, Daniel J, Young, Jo-Anne H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Child; Child, Preschool; Graft vs Host Disease - drug therapy; Graft vs Host Disease - epidemiology; Graft vs Host Disease - mortality; Graft vs Host Disease - virology; HCT (hematopoietic cell transplantation); Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Histocompatibility; Human parainfluenza virus; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Incidence; Infection; Paramyxoviridae Infections - drug therapy; Paramyxoviridae Infections - epidemiology; Paramyxoviridae Infections - mortality; Reduced intensity conditioning; Respiratory Tract Infections - drug therapy; Respiratory Tract Infections - epidemiology; Respiratory Tract Infections - mortality; Respiratory Tract Infections - virology; Respiratory virus; Respirovirus - drug effects; Respirovirus - physiology; Retrospective Studies; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; Risk Factors; Survival Analysis; Transplantation Conditioning; United States - epidemiology; Unrelated Donors; United States; Infection; Human parainfluenza virus; Respiratory virus; Reduced intensity conditioning; HCT (hematopoietic cell transplantation)
• ISSN: 1083-8791; 1523-6536
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbmt.2012.04.012

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) are uncommon, yet high-risk pathogens after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). We evaluated 5178 pediatric and adult patients undergoing HCT between 1974 and 2010 to determine the incidence, risk factors, response to treatment, and outcome of HPIV infection as well as any change in frequency or character of HPIV infection over time. HPIV was identified in 173 patients (3.3%); type 3 was most common (66%). HPIV involved upper respiratory tract infection (URTI; 57%), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI; 9%), and both areas of the respiratory tract (34%), at a median of 62 days after transplantation. In more recent years, HPIV has occurred later after HCT, whereas the proportion with nosocomial infection and mortality decreased. Over the last decade, HPIV was more common in older patients and in those receiving reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). RIC was a significant risk factor for later (beyond day +30). HPIV infections, and this association was strongest in patients with URTI. HCT using a matched unrelated donor (MURD), mismatched related donor (MMRD), age 10 to 19 years, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were all risk factors for HPIV infections. LRTI, early (<30 days), age 10 to 19 years, MMRD, steroid use, and coinfection with other pathogens were risk factors for mortality. The survival of patients with LRTI, especially very early infections, was poor regardless of ribavirin treatment. HPIV incidence remains low, but may have delayed onset associated with RIC regimens and improving survival. Effective prophylaxis and treatment for HPIV are needed.