Investigation of Herpes Viridea and Parvovirus B19 Frequencies in Lymphopenic Malignant Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

Background/Aims: In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Parvovirus B19 viral infections in patients diagnosed with cancer receiving chemotherapy in our clinic. Methods: In this study, 138 lymphopenic patients who were hospitalized and received chemotherapy at Medical Oncology Clinic between April 2018 and July 2018 were evaluated prospectively. Cancer diagnoses of the patients included in the study were lung, esophagus, prostate, breast, pancreatic, colorectal, stomach, brain and nervous system, ovarian and others (ewing sarcoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, larynx carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, malignant mesenchymal tumor, multiple myeloma, primary unknown lymphoma, metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary, renal cell carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, testicular carcinoma) cancers. The patients were at various stages of cancer, had various histological subtypes, and were receiving various chemotherapies. The % frequency of EBV, HSV, CMV and Parvovirus B19 in serum samples were determined. Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.93 ± 13.28 years, and the mean duration of diagnosis was 2,0 ± 2,2 years. EBV PCR positivity was detected in 9 patients (6.5%), CMV PCR positivity in 12 patients (8.7%), and EBV and CMV (together) PCR positivity in 1 (0,7%) patient. HSV and parvovirus B19 PCR positivitys were not determined in any patients. According to the results of the survival analysis, the average survival time in all lymphopenic patients was 3.71 months. It was observed that 65.21% of all lymphopenic patients die within 12 months following lymphopenia diagnosis. Conclusions: As a result of our study, EBV and CMV PCR positivity rates were determined in all lymphopenic patients receiving chemotherapy (6.5% and 8.7%, respectively). More comprehensive studies are needed to determine the incidence of HSV and parvovirus B19. In addition, lymphopenic patients receiving chemotherapy should be followed up by physicians for viral infections and treated with antiviral therapy in the early stages of infection.