title: Effect of white cell counts on the presence of human herpes simplex virus type-1 in saliva of pediatric oncology patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess if there is increased herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) salivary shedding in oncology pediatric patients with severe cytopenia (SC).
  
  
  METHODS
  HSV-1 was detected by real time PCR in saliva samples from oncology pediatric patients (n = 30) during SC and relative cytopenia (RC), and from healthy children (n = 27).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of HSV-1 positive saliva samples was higher in patients with SC as compared to controls (P < .05), and this frequency presented a significant reduction during RC periods (P < .02). The SC group positive for HSV-1 presented both a twofold increase in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as compared with SC patients negative for HSV-1 (P < .05), and a positive correlation between neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (P < .05, R = 0.82, R(2) = 0.67). This correlation was not found in oncology patients negative for HSV-1 during SC and RC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe cytopenia in oncology pediatric patients could be an important susceptibility factor for increased HSV-1 salivary shedding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile. esepulve@udec.cl
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
authors.forename: Isolde G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Brethauer
authors.forename: Nancy P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Maulén
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kirsten
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oñate
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Fort
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rojas
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000821:virology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000821:virology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017201:Virus Shedding
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral