Warning: fopen(/home/virtual/pediatrics/journal/upload/ip_log/ip_log_2024-12.txt) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Permission denied in /home/virtual/pediatrics/journal/ip_info/view_data.php on line 93

Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in /home/virtual/pediatrics/journal/ip_info/view_data.php on line 94
Use of intravenous immunoglobulin in a disseminated varicella infection in an immunocompromised child

Volume 57(8); August

< Previous     Next >

Article Contents

Clin Exp Pediatr > Volume 57(8); 2014
Kim, Kwon, Bae, Han, Lee, Chung, Jeong, Cho, Kang, and Kim: Use of intravenous immunoglobulin in a disseminated varicella infection in an immunocompromised child

Abstract

Varicella-zoster virus infection can lead to severe illness in immunocompromised patients. Further the mortality rate of disseminated varicella infection is extremely high particularly in immunocompromised children. We report a case of disseminated varicella infection in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who was receiving chemotherapy, but was initially admitted with only for acute abdominal pain. The patient rapidly developed severe complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and encephalopathy. Acyclovir is a highly potent inhibitor of varicella-zoster virus infection. However, owing to rapid disease progression, it might not be sufficient to control a disseminated varicella infection, especially in immunocompromised patients. Immunoglobulin neutralize virus invasion and suppress viremia, acting synergistically with acyclovir. In this case, early administration of acyclovir and a high-dose of immunoglobulin, combined with mechanical respiratory support, proved adequate for treatment of this severe illness.

Introduction

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is a self-limited childhood disease1,2). However, it sometimes can be a life-threatening condition, especially in immunocompromised patients such as bone marrow transplant recipients, who are receiving corticosteroids therapy or chemotherapy and patients with human immune deficiency virus infection1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8). Although, it is very rare, VZV infection can be also lead to severe illness in immunocompetent persons2,3,6,7).
We report a case of primary VZV infection with very rare complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and encephalopathy in an 8-year-old boy undergoing chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Case report

An 8-year-old boy was admitted to The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital after experiencing one day of severe abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with ALL (L3) 4 years ago. After first relapse, the patient received a bone marrow transplant 3 years ago, but second relapse occurred unfortunately. It had been three weeks since his last chemotherapy, which included a high dose of methotraxate. He was no vaccinated against chickenpox following the bone marrow transplant.
His body temperature was normal. He showed hepatosplenomegaly and tenderness in the periumbilical area. A complete blood count showed hemoglobin of 12.1 g/dL, white blood cells (WBCs) count of 3,490/mm3 with segmented neutrophils of 80.0%, and platelet count of 135,000/mm3. Liver function tests showed slightly increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, 78 U/L) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, 135 U/L) (Fig. 1). Chest, abdomen x-rays and abdomen and pelvis computed tomography scans appeared normal.
The next day, the patient was running a fever of up to 39.0℃, so empirical intravenous antibiotics were started. His abdominal pain remained constant. On his third day, multiple erythematous vesicles formed on his trunk. Consequently, 1,500 mg/m2 of acyclovir divided into three doses per day was administered.
On hospital day 5, the vesicles developed across the whole body and he complained of dyspnea. A chest x-ray (Fig. 2A) showed numerous small nodules in the entire both lungs, which lead to a diagnosis of varicella pneumonia. Laboratory tests revealed WBCs of 5,090/mm3, platelet count of 32,000/mm3, AST of 931 U/L, ALT of 788 U/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of 3,196 U/L (Fig. 1). DIC profile was also positive. We continued administration of intravenous acyclovir, changed the intravenous antibiotics, and added intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, 500 mg/kg/day), single donor platelets, fresh frozen plasma, and antithrombin III. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU).
The next evening, the patient began to show drowsy mental state and dyspnea was aggravated. A chest x-ray showed total haziness and ARDS. He required intubation and mechanical respiratory support. We increased the dose of IVIG to 1 g/kg/day.
On hospital day 7, a chest x-ray showed marked improvements in the lung, but cardiomegaly was noted. Platelet count was 69,000/mm3, and AST and ALT were 224 U/L and 280 U/L (Fig. 1). The patient was successfully recovered from DIC. We used IVIG for a total of four days, however fever persisted and the vesicular skin lesions showed no change. On echocardiography, cardiac function was normal.
On hospital day 9, the patient's blood pressure (BP) began to increase up to systolic pressure of 150 mm/Hg and diastrolic pressure of 125 mm/Hg. We continuously administered an intravenous labetarol, however no definite effect was observed. Using by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), VZV was detected in patient serum that had had been sampled at the onset of skin lesions. We decided to administer IVIG for two more days.
On the morning of hospital day 11, the patient experienced a generalized tonic-clonic seizure that lasted 30 minutes which we thought was a sign of hypertensive crisis or VZV involvement in central nerve system. We added intravenous nitroprusside and conducted cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tapping. The results were normal, and VZV antibody and PCR in CSF were negative. We increased the antihypertensives dose and added intravenous phenytoin. No more seizures were occurred thereafter.
By hospital day 13 and the ninth day after intubation, the patient's pulmonary condition was stable. He was successfully taken off the ventilator. He no longer had a fever, and all skin lesions reached the scarring stage.
On hospital day 17, the patient was transferred from the ICU to the general ward. His vital signs were stable. All laboratory data showed improvements. Lymphocyte subset showed CD3 of 87.0% (normal range [NR], 61%-85%), CD4 of 14.8% (NR, 23%-58%), CD8 of 70.6% (NR, 19%-48%), CD19 of 9.6% (NR, 7%-23%), and CD56 of 3.0%. (NR, 6%-29%). These results suggested that the patient's cellular immunity was not yet recovered. Due to the patient's history of seizure, we performed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG). The brain MRI (Fig. 2B) showed multiple patchy high-signal-intensity lesions in the subcortical regions of the right frontal, parietal and occipital lobes as a results of VZV-induced encephalitis. The EEG looked normal, so phenytoin was stopped.
We ceased administration of intravenous antibiotics and acyclovir on hospital day 19. The patient complained of no other symptoms. He was discharged on hospital day as he had been restored to a healthy appearance and most laboratory data showed improvement (Fig. 1). The clinical course of patient was as follows (Fig. 3). One month later, chemotherapy was resumed. And the follow-up brain MRI was done three months later, multiple high-signal-intensity lesions due to VZV-induced encephalitis were disappeared.

Discussion

Most healthy children with varicella infection have mild illness. However, dissemination of the primary infection can occur, particularly in immunocompromised children1,2,3,4,5,6,7). The lungs, liver, brain and heart are usually involved in progressive varicella1). The mortality rate of disseminated varicella infection is extremely high in immunocompromised children because their clinical course is fulminant and atypical4,5).
Acyclovir is a highly potent inhibitor of VZV and early treatment with acyclovir has been shown to prevent dissemination and progression of disease9). However, acyclovir alone may not be able to fully fight disseminated VZV infection in immunocompromised patients4,5), because immunocompromised children, who have lower T-cell responses, cannot control VZV, resulting in both prolonged infection and reactivation9). Although, it is very rare, VZV resistance to acyclovir has been reported in these patients9).
In this case, in spite of administration of acyclovir, VZV infection rapidly progressed to ARDS. We added IVIG with mechanical respiratory support. The recommended dosage for sepsis is 400 mg/kg/day administered as intravenous infusion for five days10). However, a dosage of 500 mg/kg/day was not sufficient. After increasing the dosage to 1 g/kg/day, the patient had no fever or new skin lesions. IVIG provides antibodies that neutralize virus invasion and suppress viremia, acting synergistically with acyclovir4). Lu et al.4) used IVIG with acyclovir in an immunocompromised child with disseminated varicella that had resulted in multiorgan failure. Various adverse effects of IVIG like acute hypersensitivity, thromboembolism, renal failure, hypotension, aseptic meningitis and fluid overload are widely known11). However, most adverse effects associated with its administration are immediate, mild, and transient12). And severe late adverse effects like renal toxicity and thromboembolic events were closely related with rate of infusion and patient's underlying risk factors, not with dose12). We therefore suggest that clinicians should consider IVIG with acyclovir to treat patients with disseminated VZV infection.
The benefits of corticosteroid treatment in varicella pneumonia remain controversial. There have been no reports of corticosteroid treatment in immunocompromised children. We did not chose corticosteroid because, it has the potential to lower the host's resistance to infection and to suppress the host's immune system10).
In rare case, cidofovir was used in hepatic failure due to VZV for antiviral activity against acyclovir and foscarnet-resistant VZV-strains13). The efficacy of alternative viral drugs alone or in combination with standard antiviral substances needs individual decision-making for situations13). Varicella-zsoter immunoglobulin was also used some in solid-organ transplant recipients14).
In conclusion, disseminated varicella infection may cause high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. However, early administration of acyclovir and high-dose of immunoglobulin may result in a positive outcome, as it did in this case.

Conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

References

1. Balkis MM, Ghosn S, Sharara AI, Atweh SF, Kanj SS. Disseminated varicella presenting as acute abdominal pain nine days before the appearance of the rash. Int J Infect Dis 2009;13:e93–e95.
crossref pmid
2. Kim SH, Haycox C. Primary disseminated varicella presenting as an acute abdomen. Pediatr Dermatol 1999;16:208–210.
crossref pmid
3. Lee S, Ito N, Inagaki T, Okajima T, Muramatsu A, Ito Y, et al. Fulminant varicella infection complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation in an immunocompetent young adult. Intern Med 2004;43:1205–1209.
crossref pmid
4. Lu YC, Fan HC, Wang CC, Cheng SN. Concomitant use of acyclovir and intravenous immunoglobulin rescues an immunocompromised child with disseminated varicella caused multiple organ failure. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 2011;33:e350–e351.
crossref pmid
5. Grote V, von Kries R, Springer W, Hammersen G, Kreth HW, Liese J. Varicella-related deaths in children and adolescents: Germany 2003-2004. Acta Paediatr 2008;97:187–192.
crossref pmid
6. Frangides CY, Pneumatikos I. Varicella-zoster virus pneumonia in adults: report of 14 cases and review of the literature. Eur J Intern Med 2004;15:364–370.
crossref pmid
7. Chuang FR, Lee CH, Chuang CH, Lee WC, Yang CC, Chen TC, et al. Varicella-zoster infection with encephalopathy, pneumonia, and renal failure: a case report. Ren Fail 2007;29:359–362.
crossref pmid
8. Kernbach-Wighton G, Oehmichen M, Saternus KS. Fatal outcome of varicella in children. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2003;5(Suppl 1): S233–S236.
crossref pmid
9. Tokat O, Kelebek N, Turker G, Kahveci SF, Ozcan B. Intravenous immunoglobulin in adult varicella pneumonia complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. J Int Med Res 2001;29:252–255.
crossref pmid
10. Roderick M, Finn A, Ramanan AV. Chickenpox in the immunocompromised child. Arch Dis Child 2012;97:587–589.
crossref pmid
11. Spurlock NK, Prittie JE. A review of current indications, adverse effects, and administration recommendations for intravenous immunoglobulin. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2011;21:471–483.
crossref pmid
12. Orbach H, Katz U, Sherer Y, Shoenfeld Y. Intravenous immunoglobulin: adverse effects and safe administration. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2005;29:173–184.
crossref pmid
13. Wiegering V, Schick J, Beer M, Weissbrich B, Gattenlohner S, Girschick HJ, et al. Varicella-zoster virus infections in immunocompromised patients: a single centre 6-years analysis. BMC Pediatr 2011;11:31
crossref pmid pmc
14. Prelog M, Schonlaub J, Zimmerhackl LB. Aciclovir and varicella-zoster-immunoglobulin in solid-organ transplant recipients. Pediatr Nephrol 2011;26:663–673.
crossref pmid
Fig. 1
Laboratory findings of the patient in the hospital. LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase.
kjped-57-370-g001.jpg
Fig. 2
(A) Chest radiographs obtained on the fifth hospital day showing ground glass opacity and numerous bilateral calcified nodules, and (B) brain magnetic resonance image showing multiple patchy lesions with high signal intensity in the subcortical regions of the right frontal, parietal and occipital lobes.
kjped-57-370-g002.jpg
Fig. 3
Clinical course of the patient in the hospital. ACV, acyclovir (1,500 mg/m2/day); IVIG, intravenous immunoglobulin. Dotted line, IVIG (500 mg/kg/day); bold dotted line, IVIG (1 g/kg/day). HD, Hospital days.
kjped-57-370-g003.jpg
METRICS Graph View
  • 14 Crossref
  • 12 Scopus
  • 7,167 View
  • 97 Download