Unusual presentation of fatal disseminated varicella zoster virus infection in a patient with lupus nephritis: a case report.
BMC Infect Dis
; 20(1): 538, 2020 Jul 23.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32703300
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The risk of life-threatening complications, such as visceral disseminated varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, is greater in immunosuppressed individuals, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. CASE PRESENTATION Here, a case is reported of a Caucasian woman diagnosed with lupus nephritis and anti-phospholipid syndrome, who was subjected to mycophenolate mofetil and high-dose steroid remission-induction therapy. Two months later she developed abdominal pain followed by a fatal rapid multi-organ failure. As no typical skin rashes were evident, death was initially attributed to catastrophic anti-phospholipid syndrome. However, autopsy and virological examinations on archival material revealed a disseminated VZV infection.CONCLUSIONS:
Overall, this case highlights the importance of having a high clinical suspicion of fatal VZV infections in heavily immunosuppressed SLE patients even when typical signs and symptoms are lacking.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Lupus Nephritis
/
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
/
Herpesvirus 3, Human
/
Herpes Zoster
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
BMC Infect Dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: