Adenovirus Burden in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation: Monitoring Versus Symptoms-Based Testing-A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Adenovirus infection (AdVi) causes significant morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients.

METHODS

This retrospective study of 131 patients (2020-2024) compared systematic monitoring in high-risk patients versus symptom-based testing in standard-risk patients.

RESULTS

The 1-year incidence of AdV DNAemia was 19.8%, with AdV disease at 5.3%, being higher in the routine monitoring cohort (26%) than in the symptom-based cohort (11%, p = 0.031). Neither infection nor monitoring strategy impacted outcomes. The machine learning model identified predictive factors for early AdV DNAemia: age (50-65 years), diagnosis of acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome, transplant from an HLA-matched unrelated or haploidentical donor, and non-myeloablative conditioning. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that risk-based testing was optimal (€149 per additional detected case), while universal monitoring was excessively costly (€1006 per additional detected case).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, although AdVi was common, routine monitoring did not improve outcomes and was financially burdensome, suggesting that a machine learning-driven risk-based testing strategy enhances cost-effectiveness while ensuring timely AdV detection and intervention.