Fulminant adenovirus hepatitis after hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Retrospective real-time PCR analysis for adenovirus DNA in two cases

Background: Viral infection is one of the major causes of mortality in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Systemic infection of adenovirus (AdV) has emerged as a not uncommon viral infection with significant morbidity and mortality as with cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infection. Routine surveillance for these viruses has become a clinical practice and subsequent preemptive therapy improves patients' outcomes; however, the effectiveness of preemptive therapy for AdV has not been fully investigated in patients with a lethal form of AdV infection. Methods: Sequential AdV loads were retrospectively analyzed in children with fulminant AdV hepatitis after HSCT. Results: The AdV DNA became detectable (1 × 10⁴ copies/mL) as early as 2 weeks after HSCT. These levels reached >1 × 10⁸ copies/mL at the onset of fulminant hepatitis. However, we determined that γ-glutamyltransferase levels were elevated to >100 IU/L at least 2 weeks before the diagnosis of hepatitis. Conclusions: Our observation raises the possibility that elevated γ-glutamyltransferase could be a sentinel marker for AdV hepatitis, which prompts elaborated monitoring of AdV load and targeted treatment.