Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36572834›Full record

Observational studyPaediatric drugs2023

Letermovir for Prophylaxis and Pre-emptive Therapy of Cytomegalovirus Infection in Paediatric Allogeneic Haematopoietic Cell Transplant Patients.

Katharina F Körholz, Miriam A Füller, Marc Hennies, Malcolm Holterhus, Susanne Hagedorn, Martina Ahlmann, Heike Thorer, Birgit Burkhardt, Andreas H Groll

Open access · hybridAbstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Paediatric drugs, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
5.6field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 39 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Observational
  7. Review
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. New Treatment Options for Refractory/Resistant CMV Infection.Transplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation · 2023
    Review
  13. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Katharina F Körholz *Centre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Miriam A Füller *Centre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Marc HenniesDepartment for Clinical Virology, Institute of Virology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Federal Republic of Germany.
Malcolm HolterhusCentre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Susanne HagedornCentre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Martina AhlmannCentre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Heike ThorerCentre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Birgit BurkhardtCentre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany.
Andreas H GrollCentre for Bone Marrow Transplantation and Department of Paediatric Haematology/Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48129, Muenster, Germany. andreas.groll@ukmuenster.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1188-393X
University Hospital Münster · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a frequent event in patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality due to eventual progress to end-organ disease. Letermovir prophylaxis for CMV infections has become a standard of care in adult HCT recipients due to its efficacy and high tolerability. However, it is not yet approved for paediatric patients.

objectiveIn a retrospective single-centre observational study we evaluated the use of letermovir for prophylaxis or pre-emptive treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in seropositive paediatric HCT recipients receiving the compound outside of clinical trials. The primary endpoint was CMV reactivation requiring a change of medication.

methodsA total of 17 patients (seven female/ten male; median age 12.2 [range 3.5-19] years, median body weight 39.5 [range 15-63] kg; median follow-up time 463.7 [range 41-1022] days) were identified who were started on oral (14) or intravenous (3) followed by oral (2) letermovir shortly after neutrophil engraftment at doses determined on the basis of age, weight, and concomitant cyclosporine use.

resultsFive patients had no evidence of viral replication (prophylactic use), while 12 patients had varying extents of viral replication (pre-emptive therapy). A change of therapy was required in one patient due to a sustained increase in CMV viral load, and in two patients, letermovir was stopped without later reactivation after initiation of palliative care for recurrent leukaemia. Of the 14 patients who completed treatment, 3 had evidence of transient viral replication after end of treatment that required no further antiviral treatment. No patients (of 17) discontinued letermovir due to an adverse event.

conclusionLetermovir was effective in controlling CMV infection in seropositive paediatric allogeneic HCT recipients and was overall well tolerated. Pending completion of the still ongoing paediatric investigation plans, letermovir will be an important adjunct to our options for control of infectious complications in this special population.

Indexed as

Cytomegalovirus InfectionsHematopoietic Stem Cell TransplantationAcetatesAdolescentAdultAntiviral AgentsChildChild, PreschoolCytomegalovirusFemaleHumansMaleQuinazolinesRetrospective StudiesYoung AdultAcetatesAntiviral AgentsletermovirQuinazolines

Identifiers

PMID36572834
PMCPMC9931806
OpenAlexW4312211785

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.