Clinical characteristics and outcomes of varicella zoster virus infection in children with hematologic malignancies in the acyclovir era.
- Author:
Seul Ki KIM
1
;
Min Chae KIM
;
Seung Beom HAN
;
Seong Koo KIM
;
Jae Wook LEE
;
Nack Gyun CHUNG
;
Bin CHO
;
Dae Chul JEONG
;
Jin Han KANG
;
Hack Ki KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Varicella zoster virus; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Child
- MeSH: Acyclovir*; Cell Transplantation; Chickenpox*; Child*; Hematologic Neoplasms*; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human*; Humans; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Medical Records; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Prospective Studies; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Transplants
- From:Blood Research 2016;51(4):249-255
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Although intravenous acyclovir therapy is recommended for varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection in immunocompromised children, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of VZV infection in the acyclovir era have rarely been reported. METHODS: The medical records of children diagnosed with varicella or herpes zoster virus, who had underlying hematologic malignancies, were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of VZV infection were evaluated. RESULTS: Seventy-six episodes of VZV infection (herpes zoster in 57 and varicella in 19) were identified in 73 children. The median age of children with VZV infection was 11 years (range, 1-17), and 35 (46.1%) episodes occurred in boys. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most common underlying malignancy (57.9%), and 90.8% of the episodes occurred during complete remission of the underlying malignancy. Acyclovir was administered for a median of 10 days (range, 4-97). Severe VZV infection occurred in 16 (21.1%) episodes. Although the finding was not statistically significant, a previous history of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) appeared to be associated with the development of more severe episodes of herpes zoster (P=0.075). CONCLUSION: Clinical characteristics of VZV infection in immunocompromised children were not significantly different from those without it, and clinical outcomes improved after the introduction of acyclovir therapy. However, risk factors for severe VZV infection require further investigation in a larger population and a prospective setting.
