Kinetics of Torque Teno virus DNA in stools may predict occurrence of acute intestinal graft versus host disease early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Torque Teno virus (TTV) DNA load in blood may act as a marker of immune competence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). Conflicting data have been reported as to the value of this biomarker for anticipating acute Graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) occurrence. Here, we hypothesized that quantitation of TTV DNA load in stool specimens early after allo-HSCT could be used to identify patients at high risk of acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease (aIGvHD). In this prospective two-center study we recruited a total of 83 non-consecutive adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT. The study period comprised the first 120 days after allo-HSCT. TTV DNA was quantita…