title: Fulminant hepatitis due to varicella zoster virus in a girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission: report of a case and review.
abstract: The authors describe a 4-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in remission who developed fulminant hepatic failure due to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). Diagnosing VZV visceral infection in immunocompromised patients is often difficult due to atypical clinical presentation with few or no skin lesions and severe abdominal or back pain. Prompt initiation of empirical treatment with acyclovir and VZV immunoglobulin pending results of the serum polymerase chain reaction for VZV is warranted in this clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Elpis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mantadakis
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Anagnostatou
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Danilatou
authors.forename: Erasmia-Athina
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Markaki
authors.forename: Anna-Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spanaki
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Briassoulis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalmanti
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012074:Remission Induction