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Sight‐threatening varicella zoster virus infection after fludarabine treatment
Author(s) -
Chee Y. L.,
Culligan D. J.,
Olson J. A.,
Molyneaux P.,
Kurtz J. B.,
Watson H. G.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2000.02206.x
Subject(s) - fludarabine , varicella zoster virus , medicine , vidarabine , virology , virus , dermatology , immunology , surgery , chemotherapy , cyclophosphamide
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection involving the posterior segment of the eye after fludarabine treatment has not previously been described. Two patients, who had completed fludarabine treatment 3 and 18 months previously, presented with visual loss that had been preceded by a recent history of cutaneous zoster. The use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for VZV DNA from ocular specimens allowed rapid confirmation of clinical diagnosis and treatment with a good outcome in one patient. With the increasing use of fludarabine and other purine analogues, an awareness of such complications is important because of their potentially sight‐threatening consequences.