acyclovir and Lymphoma--Follicular

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.

Topics: Acyclovir; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; DNA, Viral; Eye Infections, Viral; Female; Herpes Zoster; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lymphoma, Follicular; Male; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retinal Necrosis Syndrome, Acute; Vidarabine; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia