title: Parainfluenza virus 3 infection after stem cell transplant: relevance to outcome of rapid diagnosis and ribavirin treatment.
abstract: All 456 recipients of hemopoietic stem cell transplants (SCT) at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, from January 1990 through September 1996 were reviewed for parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections. Of the 24 (5.3%) PIV type 3 (PIV3)-infected patients, 10 had upper respiratory tract infection and all survived, but 8 of 14 with pneumonia died. A same-day immunofluorescence test diagnosed PIV3 infection in 20 (83%) of the 24 cases, but virus culture diagnosed only 10 (42%) of the 24 cases after a mean delay of 12 days. Eighteen PIV3-infected patients first received ribavirin at a median of 3 days after onset of symptoms, but, nevertheless, 2 patients shed PIV3 for 4 months. Six of 10 patients with pneumonia died despite early ribavirin therapy. The cause of death was not established by autopsy; 3 patients had concurrent infections, but in 3, only PIV3 was detected. The value of immunofluorescence testing for early diagnosis and treatment of PIV3 infection after SCT is demonstrated, but the outcome was not altered.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elizaga
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olavarria
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apperley
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010224:Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010253:Respirovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin