Objective: This study aimed to evaluate cytomegalovirus (CMV) monitoring results in adult patients with hematological malignancies, identify risk factors associated with CMV reactivation, and emphasize the importance of regular CMV DNA monitoring using PCR. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, 316 adult patients with leukemia or lymphoma receiving chemotherapy without hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were included. CMV-DNA levels were monitored twice weekly during chemotherapy. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed, and associations between CMV reactivation and clinical/demographic parameters-including age, sex, malignancy type, neutropenia duration, lymphocyte count, and co-infections-were analyzed to identify independent risk factors. Results: A total of 504 hospitalization episodes were recorded. CMV infection occurred in 9% of patients. CMV viremia was observed in 35 episodes, with 13 episodes showing both viremia and clinical CMV disease. Among the 13 CMV disease cases, 4 were CMV retinitis and 9 CMV pneumonia. Antiviral therapy was administered in 29 episodes. Of 48 episodes with CMV viremia, 16 (33%) received preemptive therapy and 13 (27%) were treated for CMV disease. Post-neutropenia lymphopenia and concurrent infections were identified as independent risk factors for CMV reactivation. Conclusion: This real-world study demonstrates that CMV infection is a significant threat during intensive chemotherapy in patients with hematological malignancies. Regular PCR-based CMV DNA monitoring allows early detection and timely intervention, potentially reducing morbidity and improving outcomes. These findings support routine CMV surveillance in high-risk hematological patients to enhance patient management and clinical care.
Karabulut et al. (Wed,) studied this question.