title: Herpes zoster - associated erythema multiforme.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erythema multiforme is a cutaneous reaction that has only rarely been described in varicella zoster virus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a 76-year old immunocompetent male patient with thoracic herpes zoster. While treated with oral brivudin he developed a widespread cutaneous erythema multiforme. The lesions completely cleared with two weeks with systemic corticosteroids.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varicella zoster infections are possible triggers of erythema multiforme and this is the oldest patient reported with such an association. Brivudin itself has not been reported to induce erythema multiforme and is an unlikely cause of disease in our patient.
authors: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Hospital Dresden-Friedrichstadt, Academic Teaching Hospital of the Technical University of Dresden, 01067 Dresden, Germany.
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Wollina
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Gemmeke