VERRUCOUS HERPES-VIRUS INFECTION IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS PATIENTS

Objective.-Two cases of varicella-zoster virus infection that were cli nically and pathologically verrucous are reported. Although this pheno menon has previously been described in the dermatology literature, it has not, to our knowledge, been described in the pathology literature. It is important that pathologists are aware of these uncommon but his tologically distinctive lesions. Data Sources.-The patients were seen and treated at the Departments of Dermatology of the University of Tex as Health Science Center at San Antonio and Brackenridge Hospital in A ustin, Tex. All information was derived from the medical records and f rom the attending physicians. Conclusions.-Verrucous lesions of herpes (varicella) tester virus infection are rare, but they do occur in pat ients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Clinically, the les ions studied resembled ordinary papillomavirus-induced verrucae. Histo logically, there was verrucoid epidermal hyperplasia and, unlike ordin ary lesions of herpes (varicella) tester, very little inflammation of the dermis. Diagnostic multinucleated keratinocytes with herpesvirus c ytopathic changes were present within the stratum corneum.