title: Fatal varicella associated with selective natural killer cell deficiency.
abstract: A 2-year-old girl with recurrent severe varicella infections had a fatal outcome. Studies of cellular and humoral immunity were normal. No natural killer (NK) cells were detected, and NK activity was markedly decreased. The interleukin (IL)15/IL15R signaling pathway was intact. This case emphasizes the role of NK cells in controlling herpes viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Meyer Children's Hospital, Department of Immunology, B. Rappaport Medical School, Technion, Haifa, Israel. etzioni@rambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Etzioni
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eidenschenk
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Rafeal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Jean Laurent
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Shimon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pollack
mesh_terms: D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology*; D020804:Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster / Q000276:immunology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D012008:Recurrence