1 Department of Virology, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases,
Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
Dr. Izawa's group (Pediatrics 60:805, December 1977) used our live varicella vaccine in children with acute leukemia with suspension of anticancer therapy for two weeks, and they reported that rash appeared in two of 11 patients. They have vaccinated 30 leukemic children and rash has appeared in four of them.
Subsequently, a group of researchers at the Osaka University School of Medicine used the same vaccine without suspension of anticancer therapy (methotrexate, cyclophosphamide [Endoxan], 6-mercaptopurine) in eight acute leukemic children and one lymphosarcoma patient developed severe varicella symptoms (but completely recovered).