SEQUENTIAL RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS AND CYTOMEGALOVIRUS PNEUMONIA FOLLOWING BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

A 6-month-old child with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis ( FHL) experienced early sequential pneumonia due to respiratory syncyti al virus (RSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) following bone marrow transpl antation (BMT). The patient was deficient in natural killer (NK) cell activity (as found frequently in patients with FHL), and this risk fac tor may have played a major role in the concomitant infection by the t wo viral pathogens. Rapid diagnostic methods for both viruses are esse ntial and early specific treatment may serve to ameliorate RSV- and CM V-induced lung injury in these life-threatening infections. (C) 1995 W iley-Liss, Inc.