Dermatomal lichenoid chronic graft-vs-host disease following varicella-zoster infection despite absence of viral genome

J Cutan Pathol. 1996 Dec;23(6):576-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1996.tb01453.x.

Abstract

Localized cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following a dermatomal distribution or in a pattern of Blaschko's lines. Some authors have postulated that dermatomal GVHD is triggered by a varicella-zoster virus infection, although in reported cases, there was no history of a preceding herpes zoster. We describe a case of GVHD localized to the exact dermatome of a culture-proven varicella-zoster virus infection. PCR analysis failed to detect persistence of viral genome in the affected skin.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / virology*
  • Herpes Zoster / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Skin / pathology*
  • Skin / virology
  • Skin Diseases, Viral / pathology*