Complete remission of VZV reactivation treated with valganciclovir in a patient with total lymphocyte depletion and acute kidney injury after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Issue 1 (6th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maximova, Natalia; Antonio, Pizzol; Marilena, Granzotto; Rovere, Francesca; Tamaro, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Apmis. Volume 123:Issue 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 77
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2014-08-06
• Subjects: Pathology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1111/apm.12303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-4641

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apm12303-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Varicella zoster virus (VZV), a threat for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients, is still one of the most common viral pathogens that affect these patients with a reported incidence ranging between 17% and 50% in the post transplantation period. Valganciclovir (V‐GCV), a valine ester pro‐drug of GCV orally administrable, has recently shown great activity against CMV infections, but there are no reports of its clinical efficacy against VZV. We here report a case history of a patient with positive serologic test for VZV, who underwent allogeneic HSCT and developed an atypical varicella‐like illness. First‐line therapy with foscarnet had to be discontinued due rapid development of renal impairment (creatinine: 2.60 mg/dL, urea: 130.6 mg/dL) and therefore was switched to V‐GCV. The renal impairment and skin lesions of the patient fully recovered after few days of therapy, even though the patient had complete lymphocyte depletion. This is the first case of a patient with chickenpox‐like illness treated successfully with V‐GCV.</p> </abstract>