Case of disseminated vesicles of herpes zoster developing one day before the onset of local eruption in a hospitalized immunocompromised patient

Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 2013 Jul 20;38(2):52-4.

Abstract

Disseminated herpes zoster is not rare in immunocompromised patient. It is defined as at least 20 lesions in multiple dermatomes that occur within a week of the onset of local eruption. Herein, we report that a case of disseminated vesicles of herpes zoster (HZ) that developed one day before the onset of local eruption in an immunocompromised patient. A 44 year-old Japanese male, who had been in the hospital with acute myelocytic leukemia, developed disseminated hemorrhagic vesicles of 5 to 10 mm in diameter. The next day, grouped vesicles, including hemorrhagic vesicles erupted on the right side of the second to third cervical (C2-C3) dermatomes. At this point, the diagnosis was made as disseminated herpes zoster. The activation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is believed to be due to waning of VZV-specific memory T cell responses. In our case, the memory immunity to VZV which had been increased by last episode of HZ might affect on the appearance of skin eruptions.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dermatitis / immunology
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Dermatitis / virology*
  • Herpes Zoster / immunology*
  • Herpes Zoster / pathology
  • Herpes Zoster / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / physiology*
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host / immunology*
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / immunology
  • Male
  • Skin / immunology
  • Skin / pathology
  • Skin / virology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Time Factors
  • Virus Activation / immunology*