title: Varicella pneumonia in a healthy adult presenting with severe respiratory failure.
abstract: We describe a case of varicella pneumonia in a 24-year-old healthy man presenting with severe respiratory failure. A chest radiograph showed diffuse, bilateral airspace consolidation; additional complications included liver dysfunction and thrombocytopenia. However, treatment with intravenous acyclovir and gamma-globulin improved his clinical symptoms and signs. A greater than four-fold change in paired titers of the varicella-zoster virus antibody was observed. Bronchoalveolar lavage performed during the recovery phase revealed increased total cell and lymphocyte counts and a decreased CD4:CD8 ratio of T lymphocytes. Transbronchial lung biopsy findings were compatible with a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Fujinomiya City General Hospital.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Shirai
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Sano
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Matsuyama
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Honjo
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Takashima
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Sasada
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Takayanagi
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nagamatsu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nawano
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fushimi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Imokawa
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sato
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D000212:Acyclovir