Noroviruses as a Cause of Diarrhea in Immunocompromised Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell and Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Am J Transplant. 2015 Jul;15(7):1874-81. doi: 10.1111/ajt.13227. Epub 2015 Mar 18.

Abstract

Case reports describe significant norovirus gastroenteritis morbidity in immunocompromised patients. We evaluated norovirus pathogenesis in prospectively enrolled solid organ (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients with diarrhea who presented to Texas Children's Hospital and submitted stool for enteric testing. Noroviruses were detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical outcomes of norovirus diarrhea and non-norovirus diarrhea patients, matched by transplanted organ type, were compared. Norovirus infection was identified in 25 (22%) of 116 patients, more frequently than other enteropathogens. Fifty percent of norovirus patients experienced diarrhea lasting ≥14 days, with median duration of 12.5 days (range 1-324 days); 29% developed diarrhea recurrence. Fifty-five percent of norovirus patients were hospitalized for diarrhea, with 27% requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. One HSCT recipient developed pneumatosis intestinalis. Three HSCT patients expired ≤6 months of norovirus diarrhea onset. Compared to non-norovirus diarrhea patients, norovirus patients experienced significantly more frequent ICU admission (27% vs. 0%, p = 0.02), greater serum creatinine rise (median 0.3 vs. 0.2 mg/dL, p = 0.01), and more weight loss (median 1.6 vs. 0.6 kg, p < 0.01). Noroviruses are an important cause of diarrhea in pediatric transplant patients and are associated with significant clinical complications.

Keywords: clinical research / practice; infection and infectious agents; infectious disease; intestinal disease: infectious; pediatrics; viral.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Caliciviridae Infections / immunology
  • Caliciviridae Infections / virology*
  • Child
  • Diarrhea / diagnosis
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / virology*
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Feces / virology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Graft Survival
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host*
  • Male
  • Norovirus / isolation & purification*
  • Organ Transplantation*
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Risk Factors
  • Texas / epidemiology
  • Transplant Recipients

Substances

  • RNA, Viral