Genetic diversity and molecular characterization of Cucumber mosaic cucumovirus (CMV) subgroup II infecting Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and Pea (Pisum sativum) in Pothwar region of Pakistan

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is a tremendous threat to vegetables across the globe, including in Pakistan. The present work was conducted to investigate the genetic variability of CMV isolates infecting pea and spinach vegetables in the Pothwar region of Pakistan. Serological-based surveys during 2016-2017 revealed 31.70% overall CMV disease incidence from pea and spinach crops. Triple-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TAS-ELISA) revealed that all the positive isolates belong to CMV subgroup II. Two selected cDNA from ELISA-positive samples representing each pea and spinach crops were PCR-amplified (ca.1100 bp) and sequenced corresponding to the CMV CP gene which shared 93.7% nucleotide identity with each other. Both the sequences of CMV pea (AAHAP) and spinach (AARS) isolates from Pakistan were submitted to GenBank as accession nos. MH119071 and MH119073, respectively. BLAST analysis revealed 93.4% sequence identity of AAHAP isolate with SpK (KC763473) from Iran while AARS isolate shared maximum identity (94.5%) with the strain 241 (AJ585519) from Australia and clustered with some reference isolates of CMV subgroup II from UK (Z12818) and USA (AF127976) in a Neighbour-joining phylogenetic reconstruction. A total of 59 polymorphic (segregating) sites (S) with nucleotide diversity (π) of 0.06218 was evident while no INDEL event was observed in Pakistani isolates. The evolutionary distance of Pakistani CMV isolates was recorded as 0.0657 with each other and 0.0574-0.2964 with other CMV isolates reported elsewhere in the world. A frequent gene flow (Fst = 0.30478 <0.33) was observed between Pakistani and earlier reported CMV isolates. In genetic differentiation analysis, the value of three permutation-based statistical tests viz; Z (84.3011), Snn (0.82456), and Ks* (4.04042) were non-significant. The statistical analysis revealed the values 2.02535, 0.01468, and 0.71862 of Tajima's D, Fu, & Li’s F* and D* respectively, demonstrating that the CMV population is under balancing selection.

High dose valacyclovir for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation

Introduction Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most common and clinically significant viral infections following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Currently available options for CMV prophylaxis and treatment present challenges related to side effects and cost. Methods In this retrospective medical record review, the incidence of clinically significant CMV infection (CMV disease or reactivation requiring preemptive treatment) following allogeneic HCT was compared in patients receiving valacyclovir 1 g three times daily versus acyclovir 400 mg every 12 h for viral prophylaxis. Results Forty-five patients who received valacyclovir were matched based on propensity scoring to 35 patients who received acyclovir. All patients received reduced-intensity conditioning regimens containing anti-thymocyte globulin. Clinically significant CMV infection by day + 180 was lower in the valacyclovir group compared to the acyclovir group (18% vs. 57%, p = 0.0004). Patients receiving valacyclovir prophylaxis also had less severe infection evidenced by a reduction in CMV disease, lower peak CMV titers, delayed CMV reactivation, and less secondary neutropenia. Conclusion Prospective evaluation of valacyclovir 1 g three times daily for viral prophylaxis following allogeneic HCT is warranted. Due to valacyclovir's favorable toxicity profile and affordable cost, it has the potential to benefit patients on a broad scale as an option for CMV prophylaxis.

Letermovir Is Effective for Prevention of Cytomegalovirus Reactivation in HLA-Haploidentical Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation with Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide

[Introduction] Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common viral infection in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). Early CMV reactivation after allo-SCT is associated with worse non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS). Recently, T-cell replete HLA-haploidentical SCT using post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy-haplo SCT) has been developed and spread rapidly worldwide. Rationale of this strategy is assumed to be selective and cytotoxic depletion of alloreactive T cells which are responsible for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), while preserving non-alloreactive T cells which can contribute to fight infections. However, recent studies showed that PTCy-haplo SCT was associated with the increased incidence of CMV infection. Letermovir (LET), a novel anti-CMV agent, which inhibits the CMV DNA terminase complex, was approved for the prevention of CMV reactivation in allo-SCT recipients in 2018 in some countries including Japan based on the result of a phase 3 trial. Our facility performs LET prophylaxis in allo-SCT recipient if either donor or recipient is seropositive CMV. Although LET is effective for the prevention of CMV reactivation in allo-SCT recipients, the clinical effectiveness of LET prophylaxis in PTCy-haplo SCT is not well elucidated. Based on these things, we retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of LET prophylaxis in PTCy-haplo SCT. [Methods] We retrospectively analyzed consecutive 99 recipients who received PTCy-haplo SCT at Hokkaido University Hospital from March 2013 to March 2021. We compared the cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation between the LET prophylaxis group (LET group, 33 patients) and LET non-prophylaxis group (non-LET group, 66 patients). LET was initiated on the day 0 at a dosage of 480mg daily. All patients were monitored for CMV reactivation by using the anti-CMV pp65 monoclonal antibody HRP-C7 assay at least once a week from the time of engraftment. CMV reactivation was defined as the detection of CMV antigen positive cells per 50000 white blood cells, whereas CMV disease was defined by organ dysfunction attributable to CMV. [Results] As baseline patient's characteristics were summarized in Table1, there were no difference between LET and non-LET group in terms of age, sex, underlying disease, disease risk at transplantation, prior transplantation, conditioning intensity, and CMV serostatus. All patients received peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of Cy (40-50 mg/kg on day 3 and 4), tacrolimus (from day 5), and mycophenolate mofetil (from day 5). The cumulative incidence of CMV reactivation at 150 days after transplantation in LET group was significantly lower than that in non-LET group (30.3% versus 69.7%; P &lt;.001, Figure1A). Importantly, CMV disease were occurred in three patients without LET prophylaxis (gastritis, enteritis, and retinitis), but not in the patients with LET prophylaxis. The cumulative incidence of NRM at 1 year was similar between the patients with and without LET prophylaxis (17.6% versus 9.2%; P=0.366, Figure1B), as was OS at 1 year (71.5% versus 69.4%; P=0.801, Figure1C). Neutrophil engraftment was achieved in 32 patients (97%) at a median of 15 days in LET group and 64 patients (97%) at a median of 14.5 days in non-LET group (P=0.243). Furthermore, platelet engraftment was achieved in 26 patients (79%) at a median of 34 days in LET group and 57 patients (86%) at a median of 31 days in non-LET group (P=0.282). These findings suggest that LET does not affect engraftment. Interestingly, the length of hospitalization in the LET group was significantly shorter than that in non-LET group (the median, 59.5 days versus 71 days; P=0.0488), suggesting that LET suppresses CMV reactivation leading to early discharge. [Conclusion] To our best knowledge, this is the largest retrospective study about the efficacy of LET in PTCy-Haplo SCT. LET is effective for prevention of CMV reactivation in PTCy-haplo SCT. Further studies focused on the long term effect of LET prophylaxis in PTCy-haplo SCT, such as the incidence of relapse and chronic GVHD, is warranted. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Nakagawa: AbbVie GK: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company: Research Funding. Teshima: Gentium/Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer Inc.: Honoraria; Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd.: Research Funding; CHUGAI PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.: Research Funding; Fuji pharma CO.,Ltd: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis International AG: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding; TEIJIN PHARMA Limited: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.: Other; Kyowa Kirin Co.,Ltd.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi S.A.: Research Funding.

Cytomegalovirus Gastroenteritis in Patients with Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease

[Background] A pre-emptive strategy has successfully decreased the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, it is difficult to completely prevent breakthrough CMV gastroenteritis, especially after acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) because a routine monitoring test with antigenemia or PCR assay often shows negative results before the development of CMV gastroenteritis that is considered as a localized infection initially. Actually, gastroenteritis is the predominant CMV disease in a pre-emptive strategy era. In addition, letermovir has recently been available for prophylactic strategies against CMV in clinical practice. However, little is known about the incidence, prognostic factors, and impact of subsequent CMV gastroenteritis after acute GVHD under recent advances in HCT including the introduction of letermovir. [Methods] This nationwide retrospective study evaluated adult patients who received their first allogeneic transplantation between 2008 and 2019 and developed grade II-IV acute GVHD (G24GVHD). Patients with a CMV-seronegative donor and recipient were excluded. Weekly monitoring using pp65 antigenemia assay was performed from the time of engraftment. A diagnosis of CMV gastroenteritis was made by gastrointestinal symptoms with histological proof of CMV on biopsy samples. The day when patients developed G24GVHD was considered as day 0 in all analyses. Nonrelapse mortality (NRM) by day 365 was set as the primary end-point. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used in all multivariate analyses. The impact of CMV reactivation and gastroenteritis as a time-dependent covariate were graphically plotted using a Simon-Makuch method. This study was approved by the data management committee of the Japan Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (JSTCT) and by the Institutional Review Board of Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center. [Results] In total, 3759 patients with G24GVHD fulfilled eligibility and were included in this analysis. The median age at HCT was 50 years (range, 16 to 74). Of the 3759 patients with G24GVHD, 1120 (29.8%) developed grade III-IV acute GVHD. Letermovir prophylaxis was administered in 275 patients (7.3%), and the median start timing was 1 day after HCT (range, -8 to 36). The median duration of letermovir administration was 91 days (range, 2 to 332). The median observation period of survivors with letermovir prophylaxis was 320 days from the development of G24GVHD. By day 365, 207 patients developed CMV gastroenteritis and the cumulative incidence was 5.7% (95% CI, 5.0-6.5%). The median duration between the development of G24GVHD and CMV gastroenteritis was 22 days (range, 1 to 235). Before the onset of CMV gastroenteritis, 37 (17.9%) did not develop CMV reactivation. In multivariate analyses, advanced age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-2.22; P = 0.004), GVHD prophylaxis using mycophenolate mofetil with calcineurin inhibitor (HR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.08-2.77; P = 0.024), lower-gut acute GVHD at the development of G24GVHD (HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.58-2.98; P &lt; 0.001), and use of systemic steroids (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.16-2.74; P = 0.008) were independent risk factors for cytomegalovirus gastroenteritis. Moreover, CMV prophylaxis with letermovir was significantly associated with a decreased risk of CMV reactivation (HR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.20-0.32; P &lt; 0.001) and cytomegalovirus gastroenteritis (HR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-0.99; P = 0.047). Then, we evaluated the impact of cytomegalovirus gastroenteritis on NRM by day 365. We found that patients who developed cytomegalovirus gastroenteritis (time-dependent covariate) had a higher risk of NRM (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.50-2.39; P &lt; 0.001) (Figure A). Meanwhile, letermovir prophylaxis reduced the risk of NRM (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-0.99; P = 0.043). We illustrated the adjusted cumulative incidence of NRM in patients with and without letermovir prophylaxis in Figure B. [Conclusion] To our knowledge, this is the largest study summarizing the characteristics and outcomes of cytomegalovirus gastroenteritis after acute GVHD. Our findings underscore the importance of more stringent surveillance with endoscopy and prevention with letermovir based on a comprehensive risk assessment. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Kimura: SymBio Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Nippon Kayaku: Honoraria; Eisai: Honoraria; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma: Honoraria; MSD: Honoraria. Uchida: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Honoraria; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.: Honoraria; Novartis Pharma Inc.: Honoraria. Nakamae: Astellas Pharma Inc.: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd: Honoraria; ONO PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.: Honoraria; Simon-Kucher & Partners: Honoraria; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd.: Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer Japan Inc.: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding; PPD-SNBL K.K: Research Funding; CMIC HOLDINGS Co., Ltd: Research Funding. Kanda: Sanofi: Research Funding; MSD: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding. Atsuta: Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Speakers Bureau; Astellas Pharma Inc.: Speakers Bureau; AbbVie GK: Speakers Bureau; Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd: Honoraria; Meiji Seika Pharma Co, Ltd.: Honoraria. Murata: GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria; Asahi Kasei: Honoraria; Miyarisan Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria; JCR Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Toyama Chemical: Honoraria; FUJIFILM: Honoraria; Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma: Honoraria; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria; MSD: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria. Nakasone: Eisai: Honoraria; Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K.: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Honoraria; Nippon Shinyaku: Honoraria.

Outcomes of Cytomegalovirus Monitoring in Autologous Transplantation: A Single Institution Experience

Introduction: Identification of patients seropositive for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prior to stem cell transplant (SCT) is a well-accepted practice across institutions designed to reduce a known cause of morbidity and mortality in this population, but the role of monitoring and preemptive approaches to CMV identification and treatment are controversial and not standardized in autologous transplantation. The preemptive approach necessitates the use of significant resources and requires persistent patient involvement. Patients undergoing autologous SCT are at a relatively low risk for CMV reactivation, especially those seronegative for CMV at the time of transplant. Here, we show that the necessity of routine monitoring of autologous transplant patients is of minimal clinical value. Methods: To determine the efficacy of the CMV monitoring protocol currently in place at our institution in detecting patients who would later develop CMV reactivation and disease following autologous SCT, we retrospectively analyzed the charts of 218 adult patients between 11/1/14 and 8/1/19 who underwent transplant at St. Louis University Hospital. No patients underwent CD34 selected stem cell infusions. The protocol stipulated the following: CMV IgG/IgM and CMV DNA PCR prior to preparative regimen followed by weekly CMV DNA PCR to day +30 . We correlated the predictive ability of positive results on any of these screening tests to identify whether patients would later develop quantifiable CMV DNA PCR positivity, clinical manifestations of CMV disease, and/or require pharmacologic treatment for CMV. Results: Quantifiable pre-BMT DNA PCR was positive in only 0.46% of patients, and 97.79% of patients were DNA PCR negative prior to transplant. CMV IgG was positive in 56.4% patients, and only 22.1% of patients in this group went on to develop a quantifiable post-transplant PCR. Of the remaining 43.6% of patients initially testing negative for CMV IgG, no patients went on to develop a quantifiably positive post-transplant PCR. Regardless of seropositivity, only 0.08% of the 1,191 PCRs performed during the study period were found to be quantifiable. Further, no patients in our cohort developed CMV disease or required CMV treatment during the monitoring period. This trend persisted despite stratification by age, diagnosis, transplant number, and preparative regimen. Conclusion: When clinically-significant CMV is defined by cases requiring treatment or the development of end-organ disease, no screening tests performed elicited clinical action. Laboratory-based CMV surveillance, based on our data, has minimal diagnostic implications and represents an overly-stringent practice in a set of patients already utilizing a substantial share of healthcare resources. We believe that pre-transplant screening for CMV IgM serology and CMV DNA PCR can be safely eliminated in the autologous SCT population at our institution while CMV IgG still plays a role in determining candidacy for CMV-negative blood products. We also propose the elimination of serial post-transplant monitoring with DNA PCR in patients without clinical signs, symptoms, or pathologic findings suggestive of CMV disease. We have changed the protocol to test for CMV PCR only if there are clinical scenarios that indicate a utility, such as prolonged fever post-transplant, unexplained cytopenias, or unexplained pneumonitis, colitis, or hepatitis. By extension, other centers should consider determining the necessity of CMV screening in their autologous transplant population given the potential resource conservation and reduction in healthcare expenditures. Disclosures Fesler: abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; incyte: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; sanofi: Speakers Bureau; morphosys: Speakers Bureau; epizyme: Consultancy; jazz: Consultancy; Skipta: Consultancy; Best Doctors: Consultancy; Aptitude Health: Consultancy; Care Dx: Consultancy; Opinionsite: Consultancy. Goldenberg: Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: Transmission, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a linear, dsDNA virus that is regarded as the prototype of the Betaherpesvirinae subfamily of viruses. It has an established endemic status in certain locations around the globe, and is also reported to be the most prevalently occurring congenital infection in humans. Furthermore, Cytomegalovirus is notorious for being a persistent lifelong pathogen that poses a threat of reactivation as well. Discussion: Congenital cytomegalovirus infection causes numerous ophthalmologic, and neurologic sequelae, and is also known for being the principal reason behind sensorineural hearing loss of non-genetic etiology in neonates. These symptoms, if present, may give rise to a premonition of congenital Cytomegalovirus disease, and so, a diagnosis can be established through serology, radiology, and PCR of salivary, urinary, or dried blood spot samples. Timely administration of ganciclovir or valganciclovir has proven to be effective in managing symptomatic cases of congenital CMV. Conclusion: A well-timed delivery of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is necessary to achieve healthy developmental outcomes for the neonate. Moreover, there is still a need to study the role of antiviral therapy in silent cases since asymptomatic patients are at a risk of developing long-term clinical sequelae as well. Relevance: An estimated 60-90% of women of child-bearing age get infected with Cytomegalovirus, and Congenital CMV disease is reported in 0.2-2.4% of all live births. Therefore, in order to develop effective screening and management protocols, it is vital to educate healthcare professionals regarding the various aspects of this congenital infection.

Clinical, Virologic and Immunologic Correlates of Breast Milk Acquired Infections in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Setting

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections acquired by very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants are incompletely characterized. To examine CMV transmission in VLBW infants, we evaluated maternal DNAlactia, infant DNAemia, and presence of clinical disease in a blinded study in VLBW infants in our newborn intensive care unit (NICU). To examine these issues, 200 VLBW infants were enrolled in a surveillance study, with weekly breast milk and infant whole blood samples collected, as available. Virologic (breast milk and infant whole blood real time PCR) and immunologic (IgG, IgM, and IgG avidity) correlates were evaluated. A chart review examined whether infants had symptoms compatible with CMV disease. DNAlactia was identified in 65/150 (43%) of lactating mothers. Nine CMV infections were identified in 9/75 CMV-exposed infants (12% of exposed infants). A higher median breast milk viral load (DNAlactia) correlated with an increased likelihood of DNAemia (p = 0.05). Despite potential symptoms compatible with CMV infection, clinicians had not considered the diagnosis of CMV in 6/9 cases (66%). All of these infants had chronic lung disease at discharge. There was no correlation between IgG antibody titer or IgG avidity index and the likelihood of transmission or CMV disease. In conclusion, in VLBW infants receiving milk from seroposi-tive mothers, CMV infections are commonly acquired, and are frequently unrecognized. Future studies are needed to determine whether routine surveillance for CMV of either breast milk or infant plasma is beneficial in preventing or recognizing infection.

Serial Monitoring and Hyperimmunoglobulin versus Standard of Care to Prevent Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Phase III Randomized Trial

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Nonrandomized studies support the potential of cytomegalovirus hyperimmunoglobulin (CMV-HyperIg) in preventing maternofetal CMV transmission, but prospective interventional studies show equivocal results. We pre­sent a prospective phase-III international randomized open-label trial on the potential effect of CMV-HyperIg following serial monitoring of CMV serostatus. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> CMV-seronegative pregnant women (gestational age [GA] &#x3c;14 weeks) were 1:1 randomized to monthly CMV-serostatus monitoring and CMV-HyperIg upon seroconversion (treatment), or routine prenatal care with CMV-serostatus testing at end of pregnancy (control). Ethical considerations required that control subjects with confirmed seroconversion be offered Cytotect®. The primary endpoint was the proportion of fetuses/newborns with congenital CMV infection. Secondary endpoints included neonatal CMV disease and safety during the 24-month follow-up. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The treatment arm counted 4,800 randomized subjects: 52 seroconverted (median GA 24 [11–35] weeks), of which 45 completed follow-up. The control arm counted 4,735 randomized subjects: 42 seroconverted, of which 34 completed follow-up (evaluable data for 28 newborns) and 8 subjects chose off-label Cytotect®. Congenital CMV rates were 13/28 newborns (46.4% [CI 27.51; 66.13]) vs. 16/45 newborns (35.6% [CI 21.87; 51.22]) in control and treated arms, respectively (<i>p</i> = 0.46). Newborn CMV disease was mostly mild and spontaneously resolving. There were no major safety concerns. The target sample was not reached within an acceptable time frame. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Serial monitoring of CMV serostatus with CMV-HyperIg treatment was associated with a mild nonsignificant reduction in the vertical CMV transmission rate. Studies on the optimal preventive strategy are hampered by epidemiological and ethical challenges and should focus on GA-dependent transmission rates and accurate dating of infection.

Letermovir Prophylaxis for Cytomegalovirus Infection in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: A Real-World Experience

Despite effective treatments, cytomegalovirus (CMV) continues to have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality in allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) recipients. This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of the safety and efficacy of commercially available letermovir for CMV prophylaxis in a real-world setting. Endpoints were rates of clinically significant CMV infection (CSCI), defined as CMV disease or CMV viremia reactivation within day +100-+168. 204 adult CMV-seropositive allo-SCT recipients from 17 Italian centres (median age 52 years) were treated with LET 240 mg/day between day 0 and day +28. Overall, 28.9% of patients underwent a haploidentical, 32.4% a matched related, and 27.5% a matched unrelated donor (MUD) transplant. 65.7% were considered at high risk of CSCI and 65.2% had a CMV seropositive donor. Low to mild severe adverse events were observed in 40.7% of patients during treatment [gastrointestinal toxicity (36.3%) and skin rash (10.3%)]. Cumulative incidence of CSCI at day +100 and day +168 was 5.4% and 18.1%, respectively, whereas the Kaplan-Meier event rate was 5.8% (95% CI: 2.4-9.1) and 23.3% (95% CI: 16.3-29.7), respectively. Overall mortality was 6.4% at day +100 and 7.3% at day +168. This real-world experience confirms the efficacy and safety of CMV.