Abstract
A report of hematologic abnormalities associated with administration of vidarabine in a neonate is presented. High doses of vidarabine (30 mg/kg/d) for the treatment of herpes simplex infection may have caused a decrease in hematocrit and platelet count. This case demonstrates the need to monitor hematologic indices during administration of vidarabine. The use of doses >15 mg/kg/d is questioned.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Avery G.B.
Neonatology. Pathophysiology and management of the newborn. Philadelphia : JB Lippincott , 1981 : 776 .
2.
Whitley R.J.
,
Nahmias A.J.
,
Soong S.J.
Vidarabine therapy of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection . Pediatrics 1980 ; 66 : 495 –501 .
3.
Douglas R.G.
Jr.
Herpes simplex virus infections . In:
Wyngaarden J.B.
,
Smith L.H.
Jr
, eds. Cecil textbook of medicine. Philadelphia : WB Saunders , 1982 : 1646 –9 .
4.
Ross A.H.
,
Julio A.
,
Balakrishnan C.
Toxicity of adenine arabinoside in humans . J Infect Dis 1976 ; 133A (suppl): 192 –8 .
5.
Pollard R.B.
,
Egbert P.R.
,
Gallagher J.G.
Cytomegalovirus retinitis in immunosuppressed hosts . Ann Intern Med 1980 ; 93 : 664 –5 .
6.
Whitley R.J.
,
Soong S.J.
,
Hirsch M.S.
Herpes simplex encephalitis. Vidarabine therapy and diagnostic problems . N Engl J Med 1981 ; 304 : 313 –8 .
7.
Chang T.W.
,
Snydman D.R.
Antiviral agents: actions and clinical use . Drugs 1979 ; 18 : 354 .