HERPES-SIMPLEX INFECTION AS POSSIBLE ETIOLOGY FOR FEBRILE NEUTROPENIAAND MUCOSITIS IN PATIENTS TREATED FOR HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

Mucositis is a common complication following chemotherapy. Clinical fi ndings similar to a herpetic infection are observed in some patients. Acyclovir administered in addition to empirical, antibiotic treatment improves the course of mucositis, and can also bring down the temperat ure. The aim of our study was to define the etiological influence of h erpetic infection on the course of febrile neutropenia in patients wit h mucositis. A total of 34 patients with febrile neutropenia were divi ded into 2 groups: 15 with typical herpetic eruption, and 19 with non- specific mucositis. Both groups received 5-10 mg/kg acyclovir every ei ght hours together with empiric antibiotic treatment. The effect of ac yclovir was studied, and results compared in the two patient groups. B ody temperatures decreased in both groups, clinical symptoms, however, disappeared more slowly in the group with non-specific mucositis. The beneficial effect of acyclovir treatment was particularly well expres sed in seropositive patients. In this group of patients, herpetic infe ctions may recur under further chemotherapy. Thus, it would be useful to administer acyclovir to them prophylactically during risk periods.