[Severe varicella infection during treatment with infliximab for Crohn's disease]

David Tougeron1, Jacques Mauillon, Jean-Luc Tranvouez

  • 1Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, CHG du Havre, Hôpital Jacques Monod, Montivilliers. davidtougeron@infonie.fr

Immunosupressive agents have improved the treatment of severe Crohn's disease. Infliximab is increasingly used in the treatment of Crohn's disease refractory to the usual treatment or with fistulas. However, there is a risk of infection and benign viral infections can became severe. We report the case of a patient treated by azathioprine and infliximab who developed serious chickenpox with multi visceral localisations and transfer to intensive care. There are a few cases of severe varicella infection in the literature with hepatitis and pneumonia in patients treated with infliximab. We review the clinical aspects, therapeutic strategy and prevention of chickenpox in immunodepressed patients.

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