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Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Published on: July 9, 2014
Acquired intestinal aganglionosis after a lytic infection with varicella-zoster virus
Stefan Holland-Cunz1, Max Göppl, Ulrich Rauch
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. stefan_holland-cunz@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Background And Purpose:
In this report, we present the first case of an immunologically impaired child surviving a lytic varicella-zoster virus infection affecting the enteric nervous system. In histological findings, myenteric and submucous enteric ganglia were nearly completely absent owing to virus infection.
Methods:
A 3-year-old girl with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and generalized varicella-zoster infection developed an ileus. She underwent multiple laparotomies in which histological sections of the entire small intestine could be obtained.
Results:
The histological evaluation of these samples showed a generalized aganglionosis with inflammatory residuals. A more detailed immunohistochemical analysis using neuronal (PGP, enolase), glial (S100), and lymphocytic (LCA) antibodies demonstrated a nearly complete neuronal loss.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first case of a secondary intestinal aganglionosis after varicella-zoster virus infection.
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