Rituximab does not appear to contribute to the increased frequency of symptomatic cytomegalovirus reactivation following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), according to an analysis involving 239 individuals.

All participants underwent ASCT and were subsequently suspected to have and tested for symptomatic cytomegalovirus reactivation. Among the findings:

• Cytomegalovirus viremia was detected in 3 of 72 patients who received rituximab, vs 4 of 167 patients who did not.

• 3 of the 7 viremic patients were treated with anti-viral drugs; the virus resolved in all of them.

• 3 patients developed other bacterial and/or fungal infections after developing cytomegalovirus viremia.

• 2 of the 7 patients died due to primary disease progression or Candida sepsis.

• None of the patients developed proven tissue-invasive cytomegalovirus disease.

Citation: Jain T, John J, Kotecha A, et al. Cytomegalovirus infection in autologous stem cell transplant recipients in the era of rituximab. [Published online ahead of print May 25, 2016]. Ann Hematol. doi:10.1007/s00277-016-2700-4.