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Laboratory diagnosis and clinical significance of rubella in children with cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

D. J. Morris
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester M9 2AA, UK
P. Morgan-Capner
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Preston Infirmary, Preston PR1 6PS, UK
D. J. Wood
Affiliation:
North Manchester Regional Virus Laboratory, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester M9 2AA, UK
M. Dalton
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Oncology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester M27 1HA, UK
J. Wright
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Preston Infirmary, Preston PR1 6PS, UK
H. I. J. Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Virology, Preston Infirmary, Preston PR1 6PS, UK
R.F. Stevens
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Oncology, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester M27 1HA, UK
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Summary

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Virus-specific antibody responses were studied in 12 children with cancer in whom rubella was diagnosed by seroconversion or a rising titre (≥ fourfold) of haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody. Our results confirmed the difficulties of making a diagnosis of rubella infection in immunocompromised children using criteria for interpreting antibody assays established in immunocompetent patients. Specific IgM antibody persisted for more than 2 months in 7 of 10 children with probable primary rubella, 3 of whom had high concentrations of such antibody 6, 7 and 11 months after the rash. Radial haemolysis and specific IgG1 and IgG3 antibody responses were low in 4, 2, and 4 patients, respectively. One child apparently had a rubella reinfection and, in another, rubella antibody passively acquired from blood transfusions was probably responsible for the HI seroconversion. Nonetheless, the benign clinical course of rubella in immunocompromised children was confirmed.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

References

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