title: Zoster ... "a lmost" ... sine herpete: diagnostic utility of real time-polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Zoster sine herpete is a particular form of varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection characterized by segmental pain and dysesthesia, without any cutaneous lesions ever becoming perceptible. This report describes the case of a female patient, presenting with intercostal pain associated with a single papulo-vesicular lesion localized within the same area. Thanks to such a lesion, real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on vesicle fluid swab was possible, thus revealing a significant number of VZV genome copies. This innovative tool has proven essential to diagnose this abortive form of herpes zoster, which would otherwise have remained unidentified.
authors.affiliation: g.vena@dermatologia.uniba.it
authors.forename: Gino A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vena
authors.forename: Doriana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Apruzzi
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vestita
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvario
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cassano
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral