Foscarnet salvage therapy for acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster: report of a novel thymidine kinase mutation and review of the literature

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Jan;27(1):75-7. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181598315.

Abstract

The authors describe an acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster virus infection in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplant, the use of foscarnet as salvage therapy, and review the literature to clarify the pediatric experience with foscarnet in this setting. A novel thymidine kinase mutation is described, along with a new phenotypic assay for characterizing acyclovir resistance in varicella zoster virus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acyclovir / pharmacology*
  • Chickenpox / drug therapy*
  • Chickenpox / virology
  • Child
  • Drug Resistance, Viral / genetics*
  • Female
  • Foscarnet / therapeutic use*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Mutation
  • Salvage Therapy / methods*
  • Thymidine Kinase / genetics*

Substances

  • Foscarnet
  • Thymidine Kinase
  • Acyclovir