title: Sight-threatening varicella zoster virus infection after fludarabine treatment.
abstract: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection involving the posterior segment of the eye after fludarabine treatment has not previously been described. Two patients, who had completed fludarabine treatment 3 and 18 months previously, presented with visual loss that had been preceded by a recent history of cutaneous zoster. The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for VZV DNA from ocular specimens allowed rapid confirmation of clinical diagnosis and treatment with a good outcome in one patient. With the increasing use of fludarabine and other purine analogues, an awareness of such complications is important because of their potentially sight-threatening consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK. y.chee@abdn.ac.uk
authors.forename: Y L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chee
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Culligan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Molyneaux
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kurtz
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D015828:Eye Infections, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015882:Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D000212:Acyclovir