title: Frequent varicella zoster reactivation associated with therapeutic use of arsenic trioxide: portents of an old scourge.
abstract: In 44 patients treated with arsenic trioxide (As2(O3)) for acute promyelocytic leukemia, 11 developed varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation (median 56 days [range 15-299]) after treatment. There was no preferential dermatome involvement or systemic spread. The actuarial risk of VZV reactivation at 1 year was 26%. No VZV reactivation occurred after the first year of initial treatment with As2(O3).
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wing-Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Au
authors.forename: Yok-Lam
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Kwong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002644:Chickenpox; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010087:Oxides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide