Clin Pediatr Hematol Oncol.  2011 Apr;18(1):27-33.

Infectious Complications after Monoclonal Antibody Therapy in Pediatric Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients

• Kang JM
• Choi YB
• Kong EH
• Choi SH
• Chueh HW
• Lee SH
• Kim JY
• Cho EJ
• Yoo KH
• Sung KW
• Koo HH
• Kim YJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We evaluated characteristics of infectious complications in pediatric patients who received monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT).
METHODS
Between February 2004 and May 2009, 17 pediatric patients (<19 years at diagnosis) who received mAbs were identified as a study group (mAb group). One hundred twenty-two pediatric allogeneic HCT patients (<19 years at diagnosis) who did not receive mAb during the same period were identified as a control group (non-mAb group). A retrospective chart review of medical records was performed for the incidence of infectious complications and mortality.
RESULTS
In the mAb group, 12 of the 17 patients (70.6%) had 29 infectious complications (1.71 episodes per person), whereas 89 of the 122 patients (73.8%) had 162 infectious complications (1.32 episodes per person) in the non-mAb group (P=0.838). Although, there were no significant differences in characteristics or incidence of infectious complications between the two groups, the infection-associated mortality rate was significantly higher in the mAb group compared to non-mAb group (29.4% vs. 8.2% P=0.021; RR 3.44, 95% CI, 1.407 to 8.433).
CONCLUSION
The mAb therapy was associated with significantly high mortality in pediatric allogeneic HCT recipients.

Keyword

Monoclonal antibody; Infectious complications; Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation; Children

MeSH Terms

Cell Transplantation
Child
Humans
Incidence
Medical Records
Retrospective Studies
Transplants