Acyclovir prophylaxis reduces varicella infections in children receiving intensive chemotherapy

Share :
Published: 24 Sep 2026
Views: 52
Rating:
Save
Dr Chetan Dhamne - Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India

Dr Chetan Dhamne speaks to ecancer about a randomised, double-blind trial evaluating acyclovir pre-exposure prophylaxis for varicella-seronegative children receiving intensive chemotherapy for haematolymphoid malignancies.

He reports that acyclovir reduced the incidence of varicella from 21.2% with placebo to 1.8%, representing a 90% relative reduction in infection.

Dr Dhamne explains that the trial was stopped early for efficacy after meeting its predefined statistical boundary, with no drug-related toxicity observed.

He highlights that oral acyclovir could provide a simple, safe and relatively inexpensive strategy for preventing varicella-related morbidity and treatment interruptions, particularly in resource-constrained paediatric oncology settings where exposure is difficult to control.

ecancer's filming has been kindly supported by Amgen through the ecancer Global Foundation. ecancer is editorially independent and there is no influence over content.

Related Videos

Epcoritamab plus rituximab and lenalidomide improves outcomes across follicular lymphoma subgroups

Dr Benoit Tessoulin - CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France
Epcoritamab plus rituximab and lenalidomide improves outcomes across follicular lymphoma subgroups ( Dr Benoit Tessoulin - CHU de Nantes, Nantes, France )
22 Jun 2026

Blinatumomab replaces intensive chemo in high-risk paediatric ALL, improving survival

Prof Martin Schrappe - Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
Blinatumomab replaces intensive chemo in high-risk paediatric ALL, improving survival ( Prof Martin Schrappe - Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany )
18 Jun 2026

Complement-bound procoagulant platelets predict thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome

Dr Keith McCrae - Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA
Complement-bound procoagulant platelets predict thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome ( Dr Keith McCrae - Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, USA )
17 Dec 2025

Rocbrutinib shows strong responses in resistant CLL, including BTKi- and venetoclax-exposed patients

Prof Jennifer Woyach - The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA
Rocbrutinib shows strong responses in resistant CLL, including BTKi- and venetoclax-exposed patients ( Prof Jennifer Woyach - The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA )
10 Dec 2025

Acalabrutinib plus venetoclax with or without obinutuzumab versus chemoimmunotherapy for first-line treatment of CLL

Dr Jennifer Brown - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
Acalabrutinib plus venetoclax with or without obinutuzumab versus chemoimmunotherapy for first-line treatment of CLL ( Dr Jennifer Brown - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA )
18 Dec 2024

Primary IVIG supplementation reduces the risk of high-grade infections in patients receiving teclistamab therapy for MM

Dr Heloise Cheruvalath - Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA
Primary IVIG supplementation reduces the risk of high-grade infections in patients receiving teclistamab therapy for MM ( Dr Heloise Cheruvalath - Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA )
18 Dec 2024

Analysis of dexamethasone-enhanced pre-medication in motixafortide-induced haematopoietic stem cell mobilisation for MM

Dr Peter Abdelmessieh - Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA
Analysis of dexamethasone-enhanced pre-medication in motixafortide-induced haematopoietic stem cell mobilisation for MM ( Dr Peter Abdelmessieh - Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA )
17 Dec 2024

Comparative safety and efficacy of ciltacabtagene autoleucel and idecabtagene vicleucel CAR T-cell therapies in RRMM

Dr Doris Hansen - Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, USA
Comparative safety and efficacy of ciltacabtagene autoleucel and idecabtagene vicleucel CAR T-cell therapies in RRMM ( Dr Doris Hansen - Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, USA )
17 Dec 2024

Blinatumomab added to chemotherapy improves disease-free survival in newly diagnosed NCI standard risk paediatric B-ALL

Dr Rachel Rau - University of Washington, Seattle, USA
Blinatumomab added to chemotherapy improves disease-free survival in newly diagnosed NCI standard risk paediatric B-ALL ( Dr Rachel Rau - University of Washington, Seattle, USA )
16 Dec 2024