BULLOUS ERYTHEMA MULTIFORME FOLLOWING HERPES-ZOSTER AND VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS-INFECTION

Four cases of herpes tester-induced bullous erythema multiforme (EM) a re reported. Three patients presented with widespread skin lesions 10 to 14 days after an episode of thoracic herpes tester. In these patien ts a high increase in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody titer was detected, indicating secondary VZV infection. Histologic examinations of skin biopsy from a patient with widespread lesions (case 4) reveale d a mixture of EM, toxic epidermal necrolysis and herpetic virus infec tion. VZV should be included in the list of infectious agents able to trigger EM and Stevens-Johnson syndrome. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.