ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of, risk factors for, and clinical course of herpes zoster (HZ) after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in children. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 107 children with hematologic malignancy or solid tumor who underwent allogeneic or autologous BMT were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 107 patients, HZ developed in 35 (33%) after BMT; 31 (89%) of these 35 patients had localized HZ. The median onset of infection was day 96 after BMT, and 89% of cases of HZ occurred before day 365 after BMT. HZ developed in 26 (58%) of 45 patients (13/21 (62%) allogeneic and 13/24 (54%) autologous patients) with hematologic malignancy; most of these patients had undergone total body irradiation. Of 33 patients with solid tumor, HZ developed in 9 (27%). All patients with HZ were treated with acyclovir, and no patients died of complications directly resulting from HZ. CONCLUSION: Herpes zoster occurred earlier after BMT than in adults, and it occurred frequently in children who had hematologic malignancy and/or had undergone total body irradiation. Prompt antiviral therapy reduced the mortality rate and significant morbidity associated with HZ.
Subject(s)
Bone Marrow Transplantation/adverse effects , Chickenpox/epidemiology , Herpes Zoster/epidemiology , Acyclovir/therapeutic use , Adult , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Case-Control Studies , Chickenpox/drug therapy , Chickenpox/etiology , Child , Female , Herpes Zoster/drug therapy , Herpes Zoster/etiology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Neoplasms/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Time Factors , Whole-Body IrradiationABSTRACT
1. A comparative study involving 80 species (14 ray, 14 shark and 52 teleost species) of marine fish found at the southeastern Brazilian coast is presented. 2. Active species displayed higher values for all hematological parameters studied when compared to the less active forms. 3. Mean values of hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and red blood cell counts increased according to the sequence: rays, sharks, teleosts. 4. As a group, cartilaginous fish blood displayed larger and fewer erythrocytes containing more hemoglobin than teleosts; mean cell hemoglobin concentration was significantly higher in rays and sharks than in teleosts. 5. For all but the hemoglobin concentration, the hematological values studied revealed a marked contrast between bony and cartilaginous fishes which suggests distinct ways to accomplish their oxygen demands.