Korean J Lab Med.  2010 Aug;30(4):388-393. 10.3343/kjlm.2010.30.4.388.

Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Infection in Immunocompromised Patients

• Seo KY
• Lee HC
• Kim YK
• Lee WK
• Song KE

• KMID: 1781645
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3343/kjlm.2010.30.4.388

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Since April 2009, novel influenza A (H1N1) infection is spreading throughout the world. This infection might be fatal for immunocompromised patients who are at a potentially high risk of developing infectious complications. We investigated the detection rate and features of H1N1 infection in immunocompromised patients.
METHODS
Between August 2009 and February 2010, we examined 8,112 subjects, including 390 immunocompromised patients, for H1N1. Swab samples were taken from the nose and throat of the participants. Real-time PCR was performed to identify H1N1 viral genes.
RESULTS
Positive results were obtained in 2,953/8,112 (36.4%) subjects and 46/390 (11.8%) immunocompromised patients. H1N1 was identified in 8.7% patients with solid cancer, 12.9% patients with hematologic malignancy, 16.7% patients with chronic renal disease, and 14.5% patients with kidney transplantation. The mean cycle threshold (Ct) value of PCR was significantly lower (P<0.05) in patients with hematologic malignancy as compared to that in patients with chronic renal disease and control subjects. Four patients died due to respiratory complications.
CONCLUSIONS
The detection rate of H1N1 was significantly lower in immunocompromised patients than in other patients. The Ct value of patients with hematologic malignancy was significantly lower than that of other immunocompromised patients and control subjects.

Keyword

Novel influenza A (H1N1); Immunocompromised patient; Ct value

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
*Immunocompromised Host
Infant
Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics/*isolation & purification
Influenza, Human/complications/*diagnosis/epidemiology
Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications
Leukemia/complications
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms/complications
Polymerase Chain Reaction