Varicella-zoster virus hepatitis in polymyositis.
A 31-year-old woman had recurrent mild flare-ups of polymyositis for years. Fourteen days after low-dose methotrexate was added in an attempt to taper the corticosteroid, she began to feel abdominal and lower back pain, followed by generalized pustulosis, severe liver dysfunction, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. On the diagnosis of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) hepatitis, acyclovir, immune globulin and plasmapheresis were given with a favorable outcome. Physicians should be aware that VZV infection could complicate severe hepatitis in immuno-suppressed patients.
Mizoguchi
Fumitaka
F
Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Nakamura
Satsuki
S
Iwai
Hideyuki
H
Kubota
Tetsuo
T
Miyasaka
Nobuyuki
N
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects; D017285:Polymyositis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate