Rhabdomyolysis associated with acute varicella infection.
We report two cases of intense, generalized rhabdomyolysis complicating varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections, one in an adolescent and one in a young adult male. In both cases, myoglobinuria and weakness of large muscle groups developed within 5 days of the onset of vesicular lesions. A muscle biopsy from one of the individuals showed muscle fiber necrosis in the absence of acute inflammatory infiltrates or vasculitis. Culture of the muscle biopsy specimen for VZV was negative; however, the VZV genome was detected by the polymerase chain reaction. Both patients recovered fully after treatment with hydration therapy alone.
Pratt
R D
RD
University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093, USA.
Bradley
J S
JS
Loubert
C
C
LaRocco
A
A
McNeal
R M
RM
Newbury
R O
RO
Sawyer
M H
MH
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*