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Another case of PORN (bilateral progressive outer retinal necrosis) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 37, pages 113–114 (2006)Cite this article

We read with interest the report of Kalpoe et al.1 concerning varicella zoster-associated progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and describe another, similar case. The patient is currently alive and well, although with profound visual impairment.

A 51-year-old man was diagnosed with refractory anaemia with excess blasts type one (RAEB 1) and treated with two cycles of FLAG-Ida chemotherapy. Bone marrow examination showed remission (<5% blasts) but persistent dysplasia. He then underwent a reduced intensity conditioned matched unrelated donor stem cell transplant using fludarabine, melphalan and Campath I-H as conditioning. He received bone marrow stem cells from a male donor, with a low CD34 count of approximately 1 × 106/kg recipient body weight. Immunosuppression was with cyclosporine, commenced on day −1.

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References

  1. Kalpoe JS, van Dehn CE, Bollemeijer JG, Vaessen N, Claas EC, Barge RM et al. Varicella Zoster virus (VZV) related progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 2005; 36: 467–469.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Cathryn Lloyd for conducting the qualitative Varicella PCR studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Haematology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey, UK

    A Khot, F Dignan, M Potter & J G Treleaven

  2. Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK

    S Taylor

  3. Department of Virology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK

    D Cubitt

Authors
  1. A Khot
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  2. F Dignan
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  3. S Taylor
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  4. M Potter
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  5. D Cubitt
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  6. J G Treleaven
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Khot, A., Dignan, F., Taylor, S. et al. Another case of PORN (bilateral progressive outer retinal necrosis) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant 37, 113–114 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705208

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1705208

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