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Case Reports
. 2009 Apr 5;3(1):11-3.
doi: 10.3315/jdcr.2009.1025.

Herpes zoster - associated erythema multiforme

Uwe Wollina  1 , Astrid Gemmeke
Affiliations
Case Reports

Herpes zoster - associated erythema multiforme

Uwe Wollina et al. J Dermatol Case Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Erythema multiforme is a cutaneous reaction that has only rarely been described in varicella zoster virus infection.

Main observations: We describe a 76-year old immunocompetent male patient with thoracic herpes zoster. While treated with oral brivudin he developed a widespread cutaneous erythema multiforme. The lesions completely cleared with two weeks with systemic corticosteroids.

Conclusion: Varicella zoster infections are possible triggers of erythema multiforme and this is the oldest patient reported with such an association. Brivudin itself has not been reported to induce erythema multiforme and is an unlikely cause of disease in our patient.

Keywords: brivudin; drug reaction; erythema multiforme; varicella zoster virus; virus diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Herpes zoster thoracicus with multiform erythematous lesions.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Erythema multiforme: detail shows targetoid lesions with some vesiculation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Histopathology of multiform erythema showing with high density lymphocytic infiltrates and epidermal necrosis of the basal layer (HE, x20).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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