Low-level Cytomegalovirus Antigenemia Promotes Protective Cytomegalovirus Antigen Specific T-Cells after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Abstract Previous studies have reported a beneficial effect from CMV (cytomegalovirus) reactivation after alloHCT on immune reconstitution. We determined the CMV antigenemia level associated with increased CMV Antigen Specific T-cells (CASTs) at day+100 and decreased CMV reactivation after day+100. CMV reactivation and CASTs were measured with CMV antigenemia and CMV-specific major histocompatibility complex multimers. The analysis consisted of 775 CAST measurements obtained before and 30, 100, and 365 days post-alloHCT from 327 consecutive patients treated between 2008–2016. Detectable CASTs correlated with recipient (p