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Varicella zoster immune status in children treated for acute leukemia
Author(s) -
Patel Soonie R.,
Bate Jessica,
Maple Peter A.C.,
Brown Kevin,
Breuer Judith,
Heath Paul T.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.25086
Subject(s) - medicine , immune status , immune system , leukemia , immunology , pediatrics , virology
Children treated for acute leukemia are at increased risk of severe infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV). We studied the VZV sero‐status of children with acute leukemia prior to starting chemotherapy and after completion of chemotherapy. VZV sero‐status was assessed using time resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) before starting treatment and 6 months after completion of treatment. Prior to starting treatment for acute leukemia, a significant proportion of children (35%) are VZV seronegative. On completion of treatment most patients maintained protective VZV antibody levels; however, 35% had reduced/loss VZV antibody to a level considered non‐protective and susceptible to VZV infection. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:2077–2079. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.