Donor organ transmission of varicella zoster due to cardiac transplantation.
BACKGROUND
We report a case of donor-transmitted varicella zoster viral (VZV) infection in a cardiac transplant recipient. A 15-month-old girl developed primary VZV infection 12 days after cardiac transplantation. The donor suffered from varicella 2 weeks before death from pneumococcal meningitis.


METHODS
Despite treatment of the seronegative recipient with intravenous acyclovir from the time of surgery, she developed symptoms of fever, a nonspecific macular rash, and small palatal vesicles.


RESULTS
After rapid diagnostic confirmation by direct immunofluorescence on vesicular fluid, high-dose intravenous acyclovir was commenced. In addition, the cyclosporine dose was reduced by 25%. The child made a quick and uncomplicated recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
Donor organ transmission of VZV has not, to our knowledge, been previously reported. It occurred despite treatment with acyclovir and resulted in an atypical cutaneous eruption. It responded to an increased dose of acyclovir and a reduced level of immunosuppression.
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.
A J
AJ
Fall
J D
JD
Aitchison
A
A
Krause
A
A
Hasan
J R
JR
Hamilton
F K
FK
Gould
D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D014019:Tissue Donors
D000212:Acyclovir