Acyclovir-resistant chronic verrucous vaccine strain varicella in a patient with neuroblastoma

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Oct;27(10):946-8. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e318175d85c.

Abstract

A 21-month-old girl with neuroblastoma developed chronic verrucous Oka strain varicella-zoster infection during chemotherapy. Virus isolated from the patient demonstrated high-level acyclovir resistance, and its thymidine kinase had no in vitro enzymatic activity. After foscarnet therapy, she underwent stem cell transplantation without varicella reactivation. This is only the second reported case of resistant varicella zoster virus caused by Oka strain virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acyclovir / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chickenpox / drug therapy
  • Chickenpox / etiology*
  • Chickenpox Vaccine / adverse effects*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Drug Resistance, Viral
  • Female
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Infant
  • Neuroblastoma / complications*
  • Neuroblastoma / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Chickenpox Vaccine
  • Acyclovir