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Published on: January 7, 2019

Enterovirus 71 meningoencephalitis during chemotherapy in a child with metastatic osteosarcoma

Pierre Frange1, Jean Michon, Isabelle Fromantin

  • 1Pediatric Oncology Department, Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, APHP, Paris, France.

Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|September 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Enterovirus meningoencephalitis is a severe infection rarely seen in pediatric oncology patients. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy proved effective in treating a young osteosarcoma patient with this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Enterovirus meningoencephalitis is a rare but severe neurological infection.
  • Cases in pediatric oncology patients are exceptionally uncommon.
  • Aplastic phases in cancer treatment increase susceptibility to opportunistic infections.

Observation:

  • A 10-year-old boy with tibial osteosarcoma and lung metastases developed enterovirus 71 meningoencephalitis during aplasia.
  • Clinical presentation included fever, hypotension, vesicular rash, seizures, and altered consciousness.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed via PCR on cerebrospinal fluid and skin vesicle samples.

Findings:

  • The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy.
  • The treatment resulted in an excellent clinical outcome.
  • No cutaneous or neurological sequelae were observed post-treatment.

Implications:

  • Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy may be a viable treatment option for severe enteroviral infections in pediatric oncology.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare infections in immunocompromised pediatric cancer patients.
  • Further research into the efficacy of IVIG for enteroviral meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised hosts is warranted.

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