West Nile Virus Fatal After Rituxan/Fludara Treatment

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Fatal West Nile Virus Infection After Rituximab/Fludarabine–Induced

Remission for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

D. Mawhorter, Anne Sierk, M. Staugaitis, Robin K.

Avery, Sobecks, A. Prayson, W. Procop, Belinda

Yen-Lieberman

West Nile virus (WNV) infections are potentially life threatening in

immunocompromised hosts. Currently, the best diagnostic test is

serology.

Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing has

a role, but, because WNV is a cell-associated neurotropic virus, RT-

PCR results are frequently negative even in cases of active

infection.

We present a case in which serology results were persistently

negative because the patient was immunocompromised following

lymphoma treatment. The role of humoral immunity in resolution of

WNV is also discussed.

Clinical Lymphoma & Myeloma 2005;6:248-250.