A Case of Therapy of Aerosolized Ribavirin in a Leukemia Infant with RSV Infection

Hyo Jin Kwon; Myung Jin Oh; Jae Wook Lee; Nak Gyun Chung; Bin Cho; Hack Ki Kim; Jin Han Kang

doi:10.0000/kjpid.2012.19.3.162

Journal List > Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis > v.19(3) > 1096065

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Kwon, Oh, Lee, Chung, Cho, Kim, and Kang: A Case of Therapy of Aerosolized Ribavirin in a Leukemia Infant with RSV Infection

Case Report

Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Korean Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases 2012; 19(3): 162-167.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/kjpid.2012.19.3.162

A Case of Therapy of Aerosolized Ribavirin in a Leukemia Infant with RSV Infection

Hyo Jin Kwon, M.D., Myung Jin Oh, M.D.^*, Jae Wook Lee, M.D.^*, Nak Gyun Chung, M.D.^*, Bin Cho, M.D.^*, Hack Ki Kim, M.D.^*, Jin Han Kang, M.D.^*

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.

^*Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Correspondence: Jin Han Kang, M.D. Department of Pediatrics, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. Tel: +82-2-2258-2828, Fax: +82-2-537-4544, kjhan@catholic.ac.kr

Received 19 April 2012 Revised 6 June 2012 Accepted 11 June 2012

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Life-threatening RSV infection is often reported in young children and immunocompromised hosts. Since there is no report on ribavirin therapy for RSV pneumonia in pediatric cancer patients in Korea, we report one case of RSV pneumonia that developed in an infant with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Despite administration of oral ribavirin and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient's respiratory distress worsened and admission to an intensive care unit was necessary. Chest x-ray showed multifocal consolidation, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. Treatment with aerosolized ribavirin led to significant clinical improvement. The role of aerosolized ribavirin is still controversial, but it might have a therapeutic potential for severe RSV pneumonia in children with leukemia.

Keywords: RSV infection, Leukemia, Child, Ribavirin

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Computed tomography of chest revealed multifocal air-space consolidation in both lungs (A), and chest radiography showed pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in right side (B). After aerosolized ribavirin treatment, follow-up computed tomography (C) and chest radiography (D) showed improvement of patchy consolidations and pneumothorax.

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