Chickenpox in Leukemic Patients— Factors in Prognosis

There is now ample evidence that chickenpox can produce fatal complications in patients with acute leukemia. The prognosis, however, is not invariably bad. In the past three years, we have observed twelve cases of varicella in leukemic patients, all of whom recovered (Table I). Nine of the twelve cases occurred during two epidemics on the childrens' ward. The incubation period ranged from 14-24 days with a median of 19 days. The remaining three were infected at home. Eight children were in marrow remission, two were in partial remission (Nos. 9 & 10) and two had relapsed (Nos. 11 & 12). Three patients were severely ill (Nos. 10, 11 & 12), and none of these was in complete remission. Patient No. 11 had profound leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, but did not develop hemorrhagic lesions probably because of the frequent administration of platelet transfusions.