Impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) seroconversion pre‐allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation on posttransplant outcomes

Abstract Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation post‐allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (post‐alloHCT) increases morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine the frequency of CMV seroconversion in patients pre‐alloHCT and to investigate the impact on posttransplant outcomes. We retrospectively investigated 752 adult patients who underwent alloHCT at our center from January 2015 to February 2020 before the adoption of letermovir prophylaxis. CMV serology was assessed at consult and pretransplant. The cohort was divided into four groups based on pretransplant CMV seroconversion: negative to positive (Group 1), positive to negative (Group 2), consistently negative (Group 3), and consistently positive (Group 4). Eighty‐nine patients (12%) had seroconverted from negative to positive, 17 (2%) from positive to negative, 151 (20%) were consistently seronegative, and 495 (66%) were consistently seropositive pretransplant. For the four CMV serostatus groups, cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation at 6 months posttransplant was 4.5%, 47.1%, 6.6%, and 76.6% for Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively ( p < .0001). No differences between groups were seen regarding Grade III–IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) ( p = .91), moderate/severe chronic GVHD ( p = .41), or graft failure ( p = .28). On multivariable analysis, there was no impact of CMV serostatus group on overall survival ( p = .67), cumulative incidence of relapse ( p = .83) or non‐relapse mortality. alloHCT patients who demonstrate CMV seroconversion pretransplant from negative to positive have a very low risk of CMV reactivation posttransplant. The observed seroconversion may be due to passive CMV immunity acquired through blood products. Quantitative CMV immunoglobulin G/immunoglobulin M pretransplant may help differentiate between true seroconversion and passively transmitted CMV immunoglobulin.