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Viral Infections

Incidence, risk factors and outcome of varicella-zoster virus infection in children after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 25, pages 167–172 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

We report a retrospective analysis of VZV infection after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in children. Thirty-three (30%) of the total 109 children who were transplanted during a 7 year period developed post-transplant VZV infection. Twenty-four of these 33 (73%) children had VZV infection within 1 year following HSCT. The cumulative incidences of post-transplant VZV infection at 1 and 5 years were 26% and 45%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of pretransplant VZV serology in recipients on the development of HZ following HSCT were 39% and 88%, respectively. Pretransplant VZV seropositivity in recipients was the only risk factor for post-transplant herpes zoster (HZ) infection on multivariate analysis. All patients responded to acyclovir. The median duration of VZV infection was 5 days. Three (11%) and one (3%) children with HZ developed visceral dissemination and post-herpetic neuralgia, respectively. No mortality was directly attributed to VZV infection. VZV infection remains a major cause of morbidity in children after HSCT. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the potential use of VZV vaccine in these children. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 167–172.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Hong Kong Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Fund and Children Cancer Fund of the Chinese University of Hong Kong for supporting bone marrow transplants for our patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    TF Leung, KW Chik, CK Li, H Lai, MMK Shing, V Lee & PMP Yuen

  2. Division of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    PKS Chan

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  1. TF Leung
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Leung, T., Chik, K., Li, C. et al. Incidence, risk factors and outcome of varicella-zoster virus infection in children after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 25, 167–172 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1702119

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