title: Primary varicella in adult renal transplant recipients: a report of three cases plus a review of the literature.
abstract: Disseminated primary varicella zoster infection in renal transplant patients can result in severe and often fatal illness. The disease tends to be much more severe in adults with an 80% mortality in the only reported series (1). We report 3 cases of severe disseminated varicella zoster in adult renal transplant patients who all survived. Early diagnosis, institution of intravenous acyclovir 10 mg/kg tds, zoster immunoglobulin, cessation of azathioprine treatment and aggressive supportive care may improve an otherwise bleak prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of nephrology, Royal Perth Hospital, Western Australia.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Parnham
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Flexman
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Saker
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Thatcher
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D001379:Azathioprine; D000212:Acyclovir