Effect of white cell counts on the presence of human herpes simplex virus type-1 in saliva of pediatric oncology patients.
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.
Sepúlveda
Ester
E
Department of Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile. esepulve@udec.cl
Rojas
Isolde G
IG
Brethauer
Ursula
U
Maulén
Nancy P
NP
Muñoz
Mirna
M
Kirsten
Lilian
L
Oñate
Angel
A
Fernández
Eduardo
E
Le Fort
Patricia
P
Rojas
Jaime
J
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
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral