Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis
Herpes zoster infection occurs more frequently and severely in immunosuppressed populations. However, the condition sometimes presents with atypical clinical manifestations of the skin, which makes it difficult to reach a correct diagnosis. We experienced a case of acral gangrene caused by varicella...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Karger Publishers
2014-03-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Dermatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/360979 |
| _version_ | 1819066137840713728 |
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| author | Aya Tanaka Nagako Hayaishi Yukari Kondo Kishiro Kurachi Atsushi Tanemura Ichiro Katayama |
| author_facet | Aya Tanaka Nagako Hayaishi Yukari Kondo Kishiro Kurachi Atsushi Tanemura Ichiro Katayama |
| author_sort | Aya Tanaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Herpes zoster infection occurs more frequently and severely in immunosuppressed populations. However, the condition sometimes presents with atypical clinical manifestations of the skin, which makes it difficult to reach a correct diagnosis. We experienced a case of acral gangrene caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV)-related vasculitis in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. Histologically, necrotic vasculitis was observed; however, there were initially no findings in the epidermis suggestive of a viral infection. We thought that the skin ulcer was related to rheumatoid vasculitis. However, an immunohistochemical analysis for VZV confirmed VZV infection in the vascular endothelium of the dermis, leading to effective treatment with intravenous acyclovir. Since various pathogenic skin phenotypes are observed in RA patients, modified according to the status of immunosuppression, clinicians must recognize the variation in typical and atypical manifestations in order to manage these patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:57:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e7494b2385ff4aa7b6992abe6745e9a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-6567 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T15:57:35Z |
| publishDate | 2014-03-01 |
| publisher | Karger Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Dermatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e7494b2385ff4aa7b6992abe6745e9a42022-12-21T18:58:04ZengKarger PublishersCase Reports in Dermatology1662-65672014-03-016110310710.1159/000360979360979Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid VasculitisAya TanakaNagako HayaishiYukari KondoKishiro KurachiAtsushi TanemuraIchiro KatayamaHerpes zoster infection occurs more frequently and severely in immunosuppressed populations. However, the condition sometimes presents with atypical clinical manifestations of the skin, which makes it difficult to reach a correct diagnosis. We experienced a case of acral gangrene caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV)-related vasculitis in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient. Histologically, necrotic vasculitis was observed; however, there were initially no findings in the epidermis suggestive of a viral infection. We thought that the skin ulcer was related to rheumatoid vasculitis. However, an immunohistochemical analysis for VZV confirmed VZV infection in the vascular endothelium of the dermis, leading to effective treatment with intravenous acyclovir. Since various pathogenic skin phenotypes are observed in RA patients, modified according to the status of immunosuppression, clinicians must recognize the variation in typical and atypical manifestations in order to manage these patients.http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/360979Rheumatoid arthritisVaricella zoster virusAcral gangreneImmunosuppression |
| spellingShingle | Aya Tanaka Nagako Hayaishi Yukari Kondo Kishiro Kurachi Atsushi Tanemura Ichiro Katayama Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis Case Reports in Dermatology Rheumatoid arthritis Varicella zoster virus Acral gangrene Immunosuppression |
| title | Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis |
| title_full | Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis |
| title_fullStr | Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis |
| title_short | Severe Gangrene Accompanied by Varicella Zoster Virus-Related Vasculitis Mimicking Rheumatoid Vasculitis |
| title_sort | severe gangrene accompanied by varicella zoster virus related vasculitis mimicking rheumatoid vasculitis |
| topic | Rheumatoid arthritis Varicella zoster virus Acral gangrene Immunosuppression |
| url | http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/360979 |
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