Risk factors and outcomes of cytomegalovirus viremia in cancer patients: a study from a medical center in northern Taiwan

Abstract

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a pathogen and can cause life-threatening infection in the patients with malignancies. This study was conducted to investigate the risk factors and outcomes of CMV viremia in patients with malignancies.

Methods: Data were collected with retrospective analysis from adults suffering from CMV viremia with underlying malignancies. A total of 107 patients were enrolled in a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan from March 2008 to December 2009.

Results: Among the 107 patients who suffered with CMV viremia with an overall mortality rate of 56.1% (60/107), 75 patients (70.1%) had solid organ malignancies and 32 (29.9%) had hematological malignancies. Mechanical ventilation (p=0.048), leukocytosis (p=0.004), and lack of appropriate early treatment (p=0.011) were independent predisposing factors associated with higher mortality rate.

Conclusions: CMV viremia predicts high mortality rate in cancer patients, especially in those with mechanical ventilation, leukocytosis, and lack of appropriate early treatment. Appropriate early antiviral therapy is recommended to improve outcomes.