Varicella-zoster virus infections in immunocompromised patients - a single centre 6-years analysis

BMC Pediatrics

Matthias Eyrich¹  Paul G Schlegel¹  Johannes Liese⁴  Hermann J Girschick⁴  Stefan Gattenlöhner⁵  Benedikt Weissbrich²  Meinrad Beer³  Judith Schick¹  Verena Wiegering¹ 

[1] Dept. of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Program, University Children's Hospital Wuerzburg, Germany;Institute for Virology and Immunbiology, University of Wuerzburg, Germany;Dept. of Pediatric Radiology, University of Wuerzburg, Germany;Dept. of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Rheumatology, University Children's Hospital Wuerzburg, Germany;Dept. of Pathology, University of Wuerzburg, Germany

关键词: cidofovir;    pediatrics;    immunosuppression;    varicella-zoster virus;   

Others  :  1172178
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2431-11-31

 received in 2010-07-28, accepted in 2011-05-10,  发布年份 2011

【 摘 要 】

Background

Infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) contemporaneously with malignant disease or immunosuppression represents a particular challenge and requires individualized decisions and treatment. Although the increasing use of varicella-vaccines in the general population and rapid initiation of VZV-immunoglobulins and acyclovir in case of exposure has been beneficial for some patients, immunocompromised individuals are still at risk for unfavourable courses.

Methods

In this single center, 6-year analysis we review incidence, hospitalization and complication rates of VZV-infections in our center and compare them to published data. Furthermore, we report three instructive cases.

Results

Hospitalization rate of referred children with VZV-infections was 45%, among these 17% with malignancies and 9% under immunosuppressive therapy. Rate of complications was not elevated in these two high-risk cohorts, but one ALL-patient died due to VZV-related complications. We report one 4-year old boy with initial diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia who showed a rapidly fatal outcome of his simultaneous varicella-infection, one 1.8-year old boy with an identical situation but a mild course of his disease, and an 8.5-year old boy with a steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome. This boy developed severe hepatic involvement during his varicella-infection but responded to immediate withdrawl of steroids and administration of acyclovir plus single-dose cidofovir after nonresponse to acyclovir after 48 h.

Conclusion

Our data show that patients with malignant diseases or immunosuppressive therapy should be hospitalized and treated immediately with antiviral agents. Despite these measures the course of VZV-infections can be highly variable in these patients. We discuss aids to individual decision-making for these difficult situations.

【 授权许可】

   
2011 Wiegering et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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