Frontiers in Immunology (Nov 2020)

Different Clinical Presentations and Outcomes of Disseminated Varicella in Children With Primary and Acquired Immunodeficiencies

  • Paul Bastard,
  • Paul Bastard,
  • Aurélien Galerne,
  • Alain Lefevre-Utile,
  • Alain Lefevre-Utile,
  • Alain Lefevre-Utile,
  • Coralie Briand,
  • André Baruchel,
  • André Baruchel,
  • Philippe Durand,
  • Philippe Durand,
  • Philippe Durand,
  • Judith Landman-Parker,
  • Elodie Gouache,
  • Nathalie Boddaert,
  • Nathalie Boddaert,
  • Nathalie Boddaert,
  • Despina Moshous,
  • Despina Moshous,
  • Despina Moshous,
  • Joel Gaudelus,
  • Joel Gaudelus,
  • Robert Cohen,
  • Georges Deschenes,
  • Alain Fischer,
  • Alain Fischer,
  • Alain Fischer,
  • Alain Fischer,
  • Stéphane Blanche,
  • Stéphane Blanche,
  • Loïc de Pontual,
  • Loïc de Pontual,
  • Bénédicte Neven,
  • Bénédicte Neven,
  • Bénédicte Neven

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.595478
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Primary infection with varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox, a benign and self-limited disease in healthy children. In patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiencies, primary infection can be life-threatening, due to rapid dissemination of the virus to various organs [lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver, eye, central nervous system (CNS)]. We retrospectively described and compared the clinical presentations and outcomes of disseminated varicella infection (DV) in patients with acquired (AID) (n= 7) and primary (PID) (n= 12) immunodeficiencies. Patients with AID were on immunosuppression (mostly steroids) for nephrotic syndrome, solid organ transplantation or the treatment of hemopathies, whereas those with PID had combined immunodeficiency (CID) or severe CID (SCID). The course of the disease was severe and fulminant in patients with AID, with multiple organ failure, no rash or a delayed rash, whereas patients with CID and SICD presented typical signs of chickenpox, including a rash, with dissemination to other organs, including the lungs and CNS. In the PID group, antiviral treatment was prolonged until immune reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation, which was performed in 10/12 patients. Four patients died, and three experienced neurological sequelae. SCID patients had the worst outcome. Our findings highlight substantial differences in the clinical presentation and course of DV between children with AID and PID, suggesting differences in pathophysiology. Prevention, early diagnosis and treatment are required to improve outcome.

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