title: Respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants with acute leukemia: a retrospective survey of the Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group.
abstract: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can cause life-threatening complications of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in young children with malignancies, but reports remain limited. We performed a retrospective nationwide survey to clarify the current status of RSV disease among infants with hematological malignancies. Clinical course, treatment, and outcome of patients with hematological malignancies who suffered from RSV infections at the age of <24 months during anti-tumor therapy from April 2006 to March 2009 were investigated by sending a questionnaire to all member institutions of the Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group (JPLSG). Twelve patients with acute leukemia were identified as having experienced RSV disease. The primary diseases were acute myeloid leukemia (n = 8) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 4). RSV infection occurred pre- or during induction therapy (n = 8) and during consolidation therapy (n = 4). Eight patients developed LRTI, four of whom had severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome; these four patients died despite receiving intensive care. In our survey, the prognosis of RSV disease in pediatric hematological malignancies was poor, and progression of LRTI in particular was associated with high mortality. In the absence of RSV-specific therapy, effective prevention and treatment strategies for severe RSV disease must be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2, Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan. miyamu@ped.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology/Oncology, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taga
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization, Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.affiliation: Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Souichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Division of Leukemia and Lymphoma, Children's Cancer Center, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tomizawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060830:Consolidation Chemotherapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D060828:Induction Chemotherapy; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Acute leukemia; Infants; Respiratory syncytial virus