Abstract: Abstract 2410 Poster Board II-388 BACKGROUND: Eltrombopag (PROMACTA®; GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA) is an oral, small molecule, thrombopoietin receptor agonist that is approved in the US for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and is being evaluated for the treatment of thrombocytopenia of various etiologies (eg, chronic liver disease, hepatitis C, MDS, chemotherapy). The prevalence of hepatobiliary laboratory abnormalities (HBLAs) in the overall population of chronic ITP patients, specifically ALT 〉 3× ULN (4.6%), has been shown to be relatively high compared with other disease populations (Bennett Haematologica 2009). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of eltrombopag on the liver by analyzing HBLAs across the ITP clinical program. METHODS: Data were collected and analyzed from patients in 3 randomized, placebo-controlled (TRA100773A, TRA100773B, RAISE) and 2 open-label (REPEAT, EXTEND) eltrombopag studies. The analysis followed an FDA draft guidance on Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI), taking into consideration ALT or AST ≥3× ULN, total bilirubin or alkaline phosphatase (AP) 〉 1.5× ULN, and potential combinations of these HBLAs. RESULTS: In the 3 placebo-controlled studies, 7% (9/128) of placebo patients and 11% (33/299) of eltrombopag patients met at least 1 of the DILI screening criteria (Table 1). In these studies, a similar incidence of abnormalities was observed in both treatment groups with the exception of ALT ≥3× ULN (placebo 2%; eltrombopag 5%). Total bilirubin elevations were observed in 3% and 4% of patients in the placebo and eltrombopag groups, respectively. 3 patients (2%) on placebo and 4 patients (2%) on eltrombopag were withdrawn due to elevations of ALT and/or total bilirubin. In REPEAT, 5% (3/66) of patients met at least 1 of the DILI screening criteria. Results in EXTEND were similar with 24 patients (8%) meeting at least 1 of the DILI screening criteria and 5 patients (2%) being withdrawn due to an HBLA. 18 EXTEND patients met at least 1 of the DILI screening criteria in a previous eltrombopag study. Of these, 7 patients (39%) met at least 1 of the DILI screening criteria during EXTEND; 5/7 experienced the same HBLAs as in the previous study. The recurrent HBLAs were generally of a lesser magnitude than the initial ones. In studies in which fractionation was required, 17 of the 18 patients with total bilirubin 〉 1.5× ULN had hyperbilirubinemia due to indirect bilirubin. Bilirubin was not fractionated in 1 patient. Of the 60 eltrombopag-treated patients with HBLAs across the program, 25 patients (42%) had their elevations resolve despite continued eltrombopag treatment. Across the program, 5 patients had ALT 〉 3× ULN and bilirubin 〉 1.5× ULN (Table 1). Of these 5 patients, 3 provisionally met Hy's Law criteria (ALT 3× ULN and bilirubin 〉 2× ULN). Ultimately, however, none of these patients met Hy's Law criteria as 1 patient had an increase in indirect bilirubin and 2 patients had confounding factors: 1 with acute cholangitis and 1 with septicemia and right-sided congestive heart failure. None of the patients experiencing HBLAs was reported to present with clinical symptoms indicative of liver function impairment. CONCLUSION: Eltrombopag treatment can lead to an elevation of ALT or indirect bilirubin. In clinical trials, these elevations have been typically mild, reversible and not accompanied by clinical symptoms indicative of impaired liver function. Disclosures: Maddrey: GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy. Cheng:GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding. Wroblewski:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment. Brainsky:GlaxoSmithKline: Employment.

Abstract: Introduction: Regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusions are the main supportive treatment for chronic anemia due to β-thalassemia. Transfusion-dependent pts require ICT to prevent iron overload from RBC transfusions, and associated complications. Thus, there is a clinical need to reduce transfusions and iron burden in pts with anemia due to β-thalassemia. Luspatercept, an erythroid maturation agent, is approved by the FDA for treatment of anemia in adult pts with β-thalassemia who require regular RBC transfusions. The phase 3, double-blind, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled BELIEVE study is evaluating the efficacy and safety of luspatercept in adult pts with β-thalassemia requiring regular RBC transfusions (NCT02604433; Cappellini MD, et al. N Engl J Med 2020;382:1219-31). Here we assess the effect of long-term luspatercept use on iron loading and ICT use in the BELIEVE trial. Methods: Pts were ≥ 18 years with β-thalassemia or hemoglobin (Hb) E/β-thalassemia (compound β-thalassemia mutation and/or multiplication of α-globin genes was allowed) and required regular RBC transfusions (defined as 6-20 RBC units in the 24 wks prior to randomization with no transfusion-free period & gt; 35 days). Pts were randomized 2:1 to luspatercept 1.0 mg/kg (up to 1.25 mg/kg allowed) or PBO subcutaneously every 3 wks for ≥ 48 wks. Pts in both treatment arms continued to receive RBC transfusions to maintain target pretransfusion Hb levels, as well as ICT (deferasirox, deferoxamine, and deferiprone alone or in combination) per product label and physician practice prior to randomization. After study unblinding, pts randomized to PBO were eligible to cross over to luspatercept in an open-label phase. Risk for iron overload-related complications was evaluated by stratifying pts into categories based on serum ferritin (SF) level ( & lt; 1,000 μg/L, 1,000 to & lt; 2,500 μg/L, ≥ 2,500 μg/L), liver iron concentration (LIC; ≤ 3 mg/g dw, & gt; 3 mg/g dw), and myocardial iron (by T2* MRI; ≤ 20 ms, & gt; 20 ms). Long-term changes in SF and ICT use were assessed in luspatercept pts remaining on treatment up to data cutoff (July 1, 2019) or study discontinuation, whichever was earlier. Results: Of 336 pts enrolled, 224 were randomized to luspatercept and 112 to PBO. Mean baseline SF, LIC, and myocardial T2* for luspatercept vs PBO arms were 2,097 vs 1,845 μg/L, 12.0 vs 10.1 mg/g dw, and 33.5 vs 34.8 ms, respectively. Overall, 97.3% of pts received ICT at baseline. As of July 1, 2019, 67.9% of pts initially randomized to luspatercept were still receiving treatment at the end of 2 years; 92 (82.1%) PBO pts crossed over to luspatercept after study unblinding. Of 141 luspatercept-treated pts with baseline mean SF ≥ 1,000 μg/L, 24 (17.0%) pts achieved post-baseline mean SF & lt; 1,000 μg/L when assessed over Wks 1−24, vs 3 (5.0%) PBO-treated pts. During Wks 73−96, 26/56 (46.4%) luspatercept pts with baseline mean SF ≥ 1,000 μg/L achieved post-baseline mean SF & lt; 1,000 μg/L (Figure A). At Wks 24 and 48, 5/120 (4.2%) and 13/134 (9.7%) luspatercept pts, respectively, shifted from LIC & gt; 3 mg/g dw at baseline to ≤ 3 mg/g dw, vs 4/61 (6.6%) and 4/68 (5.9%) PBO pts; 15/105 (14.3%) of luspatercept pts shifted from LIC & gt; 3 mg/g dw at baseline to ≤ 3 mg/g dw at Wk 96. 6/30 (20.0%) pts receiving luspatercept shifted from myocardial iron T2* ≤ 20 ms at baseline to & gt; 20 ms at Wk 48 (vs 1/11 [9.1%] PBO pts); at Wk 96, 6/24 (25.0%) luspatercept-treated pts shifted from ≤ 20 ms to & gt; 20 ms. During Wks 1-12, mean daily deferasirox dose in luspatercept pts was 1,477.08 mg (mean change from baseline +136.27 mg) and 1,516.28 mg (mean change from baseline +131.80 mg) in PBO pts. No significant difference was seen between luspatercept and PBO arms during the first 48 weeks, however, the proportion of patients receiving ≥ 1 ICT gradually declined in both luspatercept responders (defined as pts achieving ≥ 33% reduction in transfusion burden from baseline during Wks 13−24) and non-responders over time (Figure B). Both luspatercept responders and non-responders also experienced a gradual decrease in mean daily dose of deferasirox over time (Figure C). Conclusions: Compared with PBO-treated pts, a higher proportion of luspatercept-treated pts shifted to lower SF, LIC, and myocardial iron levels during the first 48 wks, indicative of lower risk of iron overload complications. Long-term luspatercept treatment led to an increasing proportion of patients with SF & lt; 1,000 μg/L and decreasing trends of overall ICT use and deferasirox dosage. Figure 1 Disclosures Hermine: Celgene BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; AB Science: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Alexion: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding. Cappellini:CRISPR Therapeutics, Novartis, Vifor Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme/Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Honoraria. Taher:Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Silence Therapeutics: Consultancy. Coates:Sangamo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene, BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bluebird Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; apo pharma (Chiesi Pharma): Consultancy, Honoraria; Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria. Viprakasit:BMS, Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Agios Pharmaceuticals, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, La Jolla Pharmaceuticals, Protagonist Therapeutics, Vifor Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding. Voskaridou:ADDMEDICA Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; NOVARTIS Company: Research Funding; GENESIS Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; PROTAGONIST Company: Research Funding; ACCELERON Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lal:Chiesi USA: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene, BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company: Research Funding; bluebird bio, Inc.: Research Funding; Insight Magnetics: Research Funding; Terumo Corporation: Research Funding; Protagonist Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Perrotta:Acceleron Pharma: Research Funding; Celgene, BMS: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kattamis:Genesis Pharma SA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Apopharma/Chiesi: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Ionis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vertex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Vifor: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Agios: Consultancy. Shetty:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Zhang:BMS: Current Employment. Tian:BMS: Current Employment. Miteva:BMS: Current Employment. Zinger:Celgene International, A Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Current Employment. Tang:BMS: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Backstrom:BMS: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Acceleron Pharma: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Porter:Agios Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Protagonist Therapeutics: Honoraria; Silence Therapeutics: Honoraria; La Jolla Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Vifor Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; bluebird bio, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria.

Abstract: Background: EXTEND (June 2006 to July 2015) was an open-label, dose-adjustment extension study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag for the treatment of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia purpura (cITP) who had previously been enrolled in a pivotal eltrombopag trial. CITP may lead to fatigue and interference with daily activities, and affect patient functioning and experience i.e., health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective: To investigate the association between platelet response and HRQoL reported by patients in the EXTEND study, employing widely used and well-validated measures. Methods: Four standard HRQoL instruments were used in this study: SF-36v2 including Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) to measure general physical and mental health status; Motivation and Energy Inventory Short Form (MEI-SF) to measure motivation and energy; Fatigue Subscale of FACIT (FACIT-F) to measure symptoms of fatigue; and FACT-Thrombocytopenia Subscale Six-Item Extract (FACT-Th6) to measure concerns related to bleeding and bruising and their impact on usual activities. The four instruments were used at baseline (BL) and at a frequency of every 3 months until last on-treatment assessment. Patients were blinded to their current platelet count results before completing the questionnaires. HRQoL scores and mean platelet count based on clinical assessments were calculated during time periods post-baseline (BL) to 〈 3 months, ≥3 to 〈 6 months, and at 6-month periods thereafter. Three definitions of response in the absence of rescue therapy (composite of new cITP medication, increased dose of cITP medication from BL, platelet transfusion, and splenectomy) were considered: 1) platelet count ≥30 Gi/L (109/Liter); 2) platelet count ≥50 Gi/L; and 3) platelet count ≥50 Gi/L and 〉 2 times BL. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the association between HRQoL over time and clinical response, accounting for within-patient correlation. Covariates included demographic characteristics and BL clinical characteristics (BMI, BL use of cITP medication, prior splenectomy, prior eltrombopag use, and BL platelet count). Results: 302 patients were enrolled in EXTEND. Between 273 and 292 (depending on instrument) had a BL, at least one on-treatment HRQoL assessment, and platelet count information. Baseline platelet count was 〈 30 Gi/L for 69.9% of patients. Median treatment duration was 2.4 years. During treatment, 86.8% of the patients achieved platelet response of platelet count ≥30 Gi/L, 79.8% achieved ≥50 Gi/L, and 75.2% achieved ≥50 Gi/L and 2x BL at least once during the study. All HRQoL instruments had a positive best mean change from BL greater than a minimally important difference of at least half a standard deviation from BL score or an established threshold. All four HRQoL instruments had positive association with the three platelet response definitions. The adjusted mean score increase (signifying improvement) associated with platelet response compared to no response was 0.9-1.3 for SF-36v2 PCS, 0.8-1.3 for SF-36v2 MCS, 1.3-1.9 for MEI-SF, 1.6-2.0 for FACIT-F, and 1.8-2.3 for FACT-Th6 (most p 〈 0.05; Table 1). Conclusion: These data show positive associations between platelet response and HRQoL measurements, especially with SF-36v2 PCS, FACIT-F, and FACT-Th6. Benefits from eltrombopag therapy in increasing platelet counts may carry forward into alleviating fatigue, concerns about bleeding and bruising, as well as enhancing motivation, energy, general physical and mental health status. Disclosures Saleh: GSK: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Bussel:Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Protalex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Physicians Education Resource: Speakers Bureau; Rigel Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Eisai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prophylix Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; UpToDate: Patents & Royalties; Momenta Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Symphogen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Shionogi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sysmex: Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding; Genzyme: Research Funding; Cangene: Research Funding; BiologicTx: Research Funding; Ligand: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Burgess:Novartis: Employment. El-Ali:Novartis: Employment. Roy:Novartis: Employment. Barghout:Novartis: Consultancy. Duh:Novartis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy; Allergan: Consultancy; GSK: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Eisai: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Medtronic: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Ariad: Research Funding.

Abstract: Background: EXTEND (June 2006 to July 2015) was an open-label, dose-adjustment extension study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eltrombopag for the treatment of patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP) who had previously been enrolled in an eltrombopag trial. CITP may lead to fatigue and interference with daily activities, and ultimately affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Objective: To assess patient-reported HRQoL changes over time during long-term treatment with eltrombopag in patients with cITP using the final EXTEND data. Methods: Four standard validated HRQoL instruments for chronic disease were used in this study: SF-36v2 including the Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) to measure general physical and mental health status; Motivation and Energy Inventory Short Form (MEI-SF) to measure motivation and energy; Fatigue Subscale of FACIT (FACIT-F) to measure symptoms of fatigue; and FACT-Thrombocytopenia Subscale Six-Item Extract (FACT-Th6) to measure concerns related to bleeding and bruising and their impact on usual activities. The instruments were used at baseline (BL) and at a frequency of every 3 months until last on-treatment assessment. Patients were blinded to their current platelet count results before completing the questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate mean changes in HRQoL from BL to different time periods for each instrument, accounting for within-patient correlation. The models adjusted for time period from BL, demographic characteristics, BL clinical characteristics (BMI, BL use of cITP medication, prior splenectomy, prior eltrombopag use, and BL platelet count), and time-varying covariates for rescue therapy use (defined as the composite of new cITP medication, increased dose of cITP medication from BL, platelet transfusion, and splenectomy). Adjusted mean best changes in HRQoL from BL were also estimated using a similar method. Proportions of responders based on minimally important difference (MID) from BL were identified for each of the instruments. Response was defined as a change from BL score of at least one-half the standard deviation (SD) of the normalized scores (5 points) for SF-36v2 PCS and SF-36v2 MCS, at least one-half the SD of BL scores observed across all patients for MEI-SF and FACT-Th6, and at least 3 or 5 points for FACIT-F. Proportions of patients achieving any improvement and time to best improvement from BL were also reported. Results: 302 patients were enrolled in EXTEND. By instrument, 289 to 293 patients had a BL and at least one on-treatment HRQoL assessment for analysis. Median treatment duration was 2.4 years. All HRQoL instruments had positive mean changes from BL over time; noticeably improvements from BL persisted through 5 years of treatment for FACIT-F and FACT-Th6 (nearly all p 〈 0.05) (Table 1) and through the median duration of eltrombopag treatment for SF-36v2 PCS. All HRQoL instruments had a statistically positive and clinically meaningful (greater than MID threshold) mean best change from BL (p 〈 0.01) (Table 2). About half of patients had a response at least once during treatment based on MIDs in changes from BL: 45.4% (SF-36v2 PCS); 44.7% (SF-36v2 MCS); 42.3% (MEI-SF); 57.5% (3 points) and 47.3% (5 points) for FACIT-F; and 49.5% (FACT-Th6). Most patients experienced an improvement from BL (a higher post-baseline score at least once): 84.9% (SF-36v2 PCS); 82.8% (SF-36v2 MCS); 79.9% (MEI-SF); 77.1% (FACIT-F); and 80.6% (FACT-Th6). Best improvement occurred at a median of 6-10 months post BL. Conclusion: About 80% of patients with cITP treated with eltrombopag experienced an improvement from BL in HRQoL, often within a year of BL. About half of patients achieved a clinically meaningful response from BL. This study found positive and meaningful mean best changes from BL in all HRQoL scores, including those measurements more closely related to clinical outcomes such as fatigue, bleeding, and bruising as well as more general measures such as motivation, energy, physical and mental health status. Improvements from BL persisted over time in particular for fatigue, bleeding, bruising, and physical health status. Disclosures Saleh: GSK: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Burgess:Novartis: Employment. Portella:Novartis: Employment. Roy:Novartis: Employment. Barghout:Novartis: Consultancy. Ivanova:Novartis: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding. Bussel:GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Immunomedics: Research Funding; Rigel Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; UpToDate: Patents & Royalties; Boehringer Ingelheim: Research Funding; Shionogi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genzyme: Research Funding; Protalex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cangene: Research Funding; Ligand: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prophylix Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sysmex: Research Funding; BiologicTx: Research Funding; Eisai: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Physicians Education Resource: Speakers Bureau; Momenta Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Symphogen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Abstract: Human herpesviruses (HHVs) remain latent after primary infection and can be reactivated in response to immunosuppression and chemotherapy. Little is known about their incidence, potential relationships, risk factors and clinical impact in non-transplant leukemia patients. This study investigated prospectively incidence, risk factors, clinical impact and possible association of HHVs-(1–7) infections in patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. Methods Study design involved longitudinal sampling before chemotherapy and in different phases of chemotherapy: post-induction, post-remission, and post-salvage during 2016–2018. A total of 734 plasma samples from 95 patients were analyzed by a qualitative, multiplex PCR for HHVs detection and a quantitative real-time PCR was used for cytomegalovirus (CMV) quantification. HHVs-(1–6) IgG and IgM antibodies were tested using immunoassays. Risk factors were analyzed by binary logistic regression and relationships between viruses were analyzed using the Chi-square or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. Results The overall seroprevalences of HHV-(1–6) IgG were high ( 〉  80%). At least one herpes viral agent was detected in 60 patients (63.3%). CMV was the most commonly detected virus in the different phases of chemotherapy (19.4%), followed by HHV-6 (9.7%), HHV-7 (5.2%) and EBV (2.7%). HSV-1/2 and VZV DNA were not detected. Twenty-seven patients (28.4%) had more than one virus detected in the follow-up, with 23 who were co-infected. CMV/HHV-6 was the most frequent co-infection (69.5%, 16/23). HHV-6 infection ( p  = 0.008) was identified as a risk factor for CMV infection while salvage treatment ( p  = 0.04) and CMV infection ( p  = 0.007) were found to be independent risk factors for HHV-6 infection. CMV co-infection was associated with severe lymphopenia with an absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) ( 〈  500/μL) (p = 0.009), rash ( p  = 0.011), pneumonia ( p  = 0.016) and opportunistic infections [bacteremia, p   〈  0.001 and invasive fungal infection, ( p  = 0.024)] more frequently than CMV mono-viral infections. Conclusions Our data suggest that co-infection with HHVs, especially CMV and HHV-6, may contribute to the development of serious clinical manifestations with profound lymphopenia, pneumonia rash and increased risk for bacterial and fungal co-infections. These findings may suggest the synergistic effect of HHVs associated infection.