title: Involvement of the esophagus and stomach as a first manifestation of varicella zoster virus infection after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
abstract: A 46-year-old man with myeloproliferative disorder received a stem cell transplant from an HLA-identical unrelated donor. Eight months status post transplantation, during the course of tacrolimus therapy, the patient developed severe epigastric pain and fever. FGS findings showed eruptions with blisters in the esophagus and ulcers in the stomach. Biopsy specimens revealed acidophilic inclusion bodies in the nuclei. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA copies were detected in the serum. No skin lesions were observed prior to hospital admission. The diagnosis of visceral VZV infection was made and the gastric and esophageal lesions were successfully healed with acyclovir (ACV). Severe abdominal pain is one of the most important signs of VZV infection for recipients of stem cell transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi, Tochigi.
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takatoku
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muroi
authors.forename: Chizuru
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kawano-Yamamoto
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Keiya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ozawa
mesh_terms: D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology