Retrospective Evaluation of Cystatin C as a Measure of Renal Function in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients Receiving Foscarnet for Cytomegalovirus Reactivation.

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation has considerable morbidity and mortality, and foscarnet is a treatment option that requires renal dose adjustment. Serum creatinine (SCr)-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations are used to estimate renal function for patients receiving foscarnet, but cystatin C (cysC) has been shown as a possible alternative. Data examining cysC-based eGFR in this population is sparse. Our primary objective was to evaluate outcomes of patients treated with foscarnet dosed utilizing cysC-based eGFR versus SCr-based eGFR.

METHODS

We analyzed patients on the transplantation and cellular therapies service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Kids from January 2011 to September 2021 who received allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and ≥14 days of foscarnet for CMV infection. Patients with cysC-based eGFR were compared to a historical cohort of patients who only had SCr-based eGFR. Outcomes included time to CMV clearance, death or change in anti-CMV therapy. Cumulative incidence curves and cause-specific hazards model were used for analysis.

RESULTS

In 61 analyzed patients, no differences were found between the cohorts in cumulative incidence of change in anti-CMV therapy ( P = 0.17) or death ( P = 0.69). After adjustment for multiple confounders, patients in the SCr cohort seemed to have a higher chance of CMV clearance compared with the cysC cohort, but the difference was not statistically significant (hazard ratio = 2.42, P = 0.089). Patients who received corticosteroids appeared to have lower incidence of CMV clearance ( P = 0.056).

CONCLUSIONS

We did not find differences in outcomes when dosing foscarnet using cysC versus SCr for treatment of CMV infection.