Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Risk factors for cytomegalovirus reactivation and disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors' conclusion
In SLE patients, age, albumin, a high SLEDAI, and immunosuppressive drug use were possible risk factors for CMV reactivation. Patients who develop organ damage have high numbers of CMV pp65 antigen-positive cells and are prone to be symptomatic with an antigenemia count >12 per two slides.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who received remission induction therapy, May 2010–October 2022, with cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp65 antigen-positive cell counts measured within 3 months of admission
- Participants
- 130 patients
- Outcome
- Risk factors for CMV reactivation
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Risk factors for CMV reactivation (64 of 130 patients)
Hazard ratio (95% CI)P value
Age
2.03(1.09–3.78)
P = 0.026Albumin
2.35(1.09–5.07)
P = 0.029High SLEDAI
1.73(1.00–2.98)
P = 0.048Immunosuppressive drug use
1.94(1.12–3.35)
P = 0.018Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | CMV disease | Asymptomatic CMV reactivation | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMV pp65 antigen-positive cells, CMV disease vs asymptomatic reactivation (25 of 64 with disease) | 6 | 2 | P = 0.02 |
CMV pp65 antigen-positive cells, CMV disease vs asymptomatic reactivation (25 of 64 with disease)
- Cut-off value for developing organ damage: 12 cells on two slides
Original publication
Risk factors for cytomegalovirus reactivation and disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus. Published 16 December 2025. doi:10.
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