Herpes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Herpes, including details on herpes simplex virus (hsv), genital, oral, symptoms, treatment.

Effect of white cell counts on the presence of human herpes simplex virus type-1 in saliva of pediatric oncology patients.

Sepúlveda E, Rojas IG, Brethauer U, Maulén NP, Muñoz M, Kirsten L, Oñate A, Fernández E, Le Fort P, Rojas J

Department of Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile. esepulve@udec.cl

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess if there is increased herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) salivary shedding in oncology pediatric patients with severe cytopenia (SC). STUDY DESIGN: HSV-1 was detected by real time PCR in saliva samples from oncology pediatric patients (n = 30) during SC and relative cytopenia (RC), and from healthy children (n = 27). RESULTS: The frequency of HSV-1 positive saliva samples was higher in patients with SC as compared to controls (P < .05), and this frequency presented a significant reduction during RC periods (P < .02). The SC group positive for HSV-1 presented both a twofold increase in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as compared with SC patients negative for HSV-1 (P < .05), and a positive correlation between neutrophil and lymphocyte counts (P < .05, R = 0.82, R(2) = 0.67). This correlation was not found in oncology patients negative for HSV-1 during SC and RC. CONCLUSION: Severe cytopenia in oncology pediatric patients could be an important susceptibility factor for increased HSV-1 salivary shedding.

Published 29 April 2008 in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod, 105(5): 583-8.
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