Abstract
Background
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with intense immunosuppressive therapy (IT) are at higher risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and may develop the end-organ disease. However, the real epidemiology, associated risk factors, pathogenesis, and clinical outcomes have not been fully elucidated.
Objectives
To investigate the associated risk factors, possible predictors in the aspect of immunology of CMV infection and to study epidemiology, and clinical outcomes prospectively in active SLE patients within 3 months after intense IT.
Methods
A prospective cohort study of active SLE patients required intense IT from November 2017 to March 2019 was conducted. We collected patients’ demographics, potential risk factors, onset and presentations of CMV infection after intense IT, data on IT, cytokine panels, and flow cytometry at weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 after enrollment. Intense IT was defined as an induction therapy of active SLE disease with either the National Institute of Health or Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial protocol regimens.
Results
A total of 24 patients have enrolled with a median age of 32 years old and 22/24 patients were female. Renal involvement was the most common and found in 79.2% of the patients. Median SLE disease activity index at enrollment was 14 (25%-75% interquartile range (IQR) = 8–19). At week 0, no CMV infection was documented, 91.7% of the patients had positive CMV IgG, and the median absolute lymphocyte count was 938 cells/mm3. At week 12, the median cumulative corticosteroid dose was 0.74 mg/kg/day (25%-75%IQR = 0.34–1.20) and the prevalence of CMV infection was 12.5%. Elevated interleukin-23 and tumor necrotic factor-α levels were associated with protective effect (hazard ratio (HR) 0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02–0.58, p = 0.009 and HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.31–0.99, p = 0.049, respectively). Neurologic involvement was the independent factor that increased the risk of CMV infection (HR 0.26; 95% CI 0.08–0.79, p = 0.018). No mortality was detected.
Conclusion
CMV infection is common when IT is used, but only some SLE patients with intense IT develop CMV infection. Certain characteristics of the patients may assist predict future CMV infection following IT. However, further study on a larger scale is encouraged.
Disclosures
All authors: No reported disclosures.
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