Fatal measles pneumonitis during Hodgkin's lymphoma

Benjamin Wyplosz1, Marion Lafarge, Lélia Escaut

  • 1Assistance publique-hôpitaux de Paris, CHU Bicêtre, Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France.

BMJ Case Reports
|October 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Measles pneumonitis is often fatal in immunocompromised cancer patients. Early consideration of antiviral drugs is suggested for treating this severe measles complication.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Measles pneumonitis treatment in immunocompromised adults lacks established protocols.
  • Adults with hematologic malignancies are particularly vulnerable to severe measles complications.

Observation:

  • A patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma developed severe measles pneumonitis.
  • Transbronchial biopsies revealed Warthin-Finkeldey giant cells, confirming measles pneumonitis.
  • The patient experienced acute respiratory failure despite treatment with ribavirin and immunoglobulins.

Findings:

  • Measles pneumonitis is frequently fatal in immunocompromised cancer patients.
  • Aggressive supportive care was insufficient to prevent mortality in this case.

Implications:

  • Antiviral therapy should be considered early in the management of measles pneumonitis in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Further research is needed to establish effective treatment guidelines for measles pneumonitis in vulnerable populations.

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