Low B-cell and monocyte counts on day 80 are associated with high infection rates between days 100 and 365 after allogeneic marrow transplantation

To ascertain which mononuclear cell subset deficiency plays a role in the m arrow transplant recipient's susceptibility to infections, mononuclear cell subset counts were prospectively determined in 108 patients on day 80, inf ections occurring between day 100 and 365 were recorded by an investigator blinded to the subset counts. In univariate analyses, the counts of the fol lowing subsets showed a significant inverse correlation with infection rate s: totals cells, IgD(+) B cells, IgD(-) B cells, total CD4 T cells, CD28(+) CD4 T cells, CD28(-) CD4 T cells, CD45RA(low/-) CD4 T cells and monocytes. In multivariate analyses, the counts of the following subsets remained sig nificantly inversely correlated with the infection rates: total B cells (P = .0004) and monocytes (P = .009), CD28(-) CD8 T-cell counts showed no corr elation with infection rates. In conclusion, the susceptibility of patients to infections late posttransplant may be due in part to the slow reconstit ution of B cells and monocytes, (C) 2000 by The American Society of Hematol ogy.