OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency and safety of treating Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) by EBV specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (EBV-CTL).

METHODSThe Clinical characteristics, therapeutic efficacy and safety of 12 patients with EBV infection treated by EBV-CTL infusion after allo-HSCT in Department of Hemahlogy of Aero Space Center Hospital between Jan 2015 and May 2017 were analyzed retrospectioely.

RESULTSOur of 12 cases received EBV-CTL infusion after transplantation, 9 did not received Rituximab therapy due to the active infection, 4 cases including 3 received Ritaximab progressed into posttransplantation lymphoroliferetive disease (PTLD). The median time of EBV infection was 47 (22-71) days, median time of antivirus therapy before tramplantation was 10 (8-33) days, median time of first CTL infusion was 59(34-86) days after transplatation. The 43 cases-time CTL infusion was performed smoothly, no related harmful evnts occoured, no progression of GVHD was observed. After the first course of infusion, complete remission (CR), Partial remssion (PR) and no remssion (NR) were obtained in 9, 1 and 2 patients respectively, the relapse was observed in 4 patients who then received the socond course of infusion and all reached CR, the patient in PR did not reathed CR finally and died of GVGD at 5 months after transpplantation . Only 1 out of 2 cases of NR obtained CR, another 1 still was in NR, and died of transplantation related infection at 5 months after transplantation. 4 cases of PTLD were all cared.

CONCLUSIONPreliminary results of this study suggest that EBV-CTL infusion is safe for the EBV infection combined with acute GVHD after all-HSCT. However, a further larger scale clinical studies are needed to prove the efficiency.