[Herpes zoster-associated morbidity in children undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia].

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Herpes zoster rarely occurs in healthy children, but may occur frequently and may take a complicated course in children receiving chemotherapy. We aimed to assess morbidity from herpes zoster in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Reviewing records, treatment and course of zoster eruptions were registered in a cohort of 67 children with newly diagnosed ALL. Of these, 45 had had varicella at the time of diagnosis and 15 contracted varicella or were vaccinated during the course of therapy.

RESULTS:

Eleven children had a total of 17 eruptions while receiving chemotherapy. All eruptions were treated with acyclovir, in eight cases intravenously, and in six cases chemotherapy was interrupted. Cutaneous dissemination occurred in two cases, visceral dissemination in none. One child had postherpetic trigeminal neuralgia for two months. The eruption rate was higher among small children than among school-aged children (0.22 vs. 0.13 per year of chemotherapy) and was related to the intensity of chemotherapy (0.30 per year of consolidation treatment vs. 0.13 for maintenance therapy). Three children on prolonged intensive chemotherapy had recurrent zoster episodes.

CONCLUSION:

Chemotherapy causes zoster eruptions in approximately one quarter of children with ALL, and with intensive protocols recurrent zoster can cause significant morbidity. Attempts to improve immunity by vaccine boosting after attaining remission seems warranted.

• Authors: Gitte Vrelits Sørensen, Jon Helgestad, Steen Rosthøj
• Journal: Ugeskrift for laeger (Ugeskr Laeger) Vol. 171 Issue 46 Pg. 3350-4 (Nov 09 2009) ISSN: 1603-6824 [Electronic] Denmark
• Vernacular Title: Herpes zoster-associeret morbiditet hos børn i kemoterapi for akut lymfoblastaer leukaemi.
• PMID: 19925740 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Antiviral Agents
• Acyclovir

Topics

• Acyclovir (therapeutic use)
• Adolescent
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects)
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Chickenpox (etiology, immunology, prevention & control)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cohort Studies
• Herpes Zoster (etiology, immunology, prevention & control)
• Humans
• Immunocompromised Host
• Infant
• Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma (drug therapy, immunology)
• Recurrence
• Risk Factors