[Virus infections during immunosuppression (author's transl)]

Virus infections during immunosuppression are like those with congenital defective immunity. Humoral and cellular immunity and interferon production are affected. In children the primary infection is prominent, in adults the reactivation. Cytomegaly, varicella, herpes and herpes simplex are given as examples of virus infections due to treatment. If the lymphocyte count falls below 500/ml, the virus infection threatens to become generalized. The possibilities of effective therapy are still very small at present. Warning is given against the use of cytosine arabinoside.