Fatal visceral varicella-zoster virus infection without skin involvement in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Abstract

A 5-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission suffered from fatal visceral varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection after the oral administration of a high-dose dexamethasone. She abruptly developed fulminant hepatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, and died 3 days later. VZV DNA and antigens were detected in the peripheral blood (6 x 10(8) copies/mL) and a postmortem liver specimen, respectively. The exposure to VZV was not confirmed and no skin lesions were observed. VZV infection should be considered in patients with unexplained liver dysfunction under severe immunosuppressive condition, even in the absence of viral exposure and skin involvement.

• Authors: Akinobu Matsuzaki, Aiko Suminoe, Yuhki Koga, Koichi Kusuhara, Takuya Hara, Reina Ogata, Tetsutaro Sata, Toshiro Hara
• Journal: Pediatric hematology and oncology (Pediatr Hematol Oncol) 2008 Apr-May Vol. 25 Issue 3 Pg. 237-42 ISSN: 1521-0669 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18432508 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Viral
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• DNA, Viral
• Dexamethasone

Topics

• Antigens, Viral (blood)
• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (administration & dosage)
• Chickenpox (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Child, Preschool
• DNA, Viral (blood)
• Dexamethasone (administration & dosage)
• Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (etiology)
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Herpesvirus 3, Human
• Humans
• Liver Failure, Acute (etiology)
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (blood, complications, drug therapy)