title: Expanding the histologic findings in smallpox-related post-vaccinial non-viral folliculitis.
abstract: Post-vaccinial non-viral folliculitis has been recognized in the past decade as a new adverse cutaneous reaction to smallpox vaccination. Contrary to more serious smallpox vaccine reactions, post-vaccinial non-viral folliculitis has a benign course and resolves spontaneously within approximately 7 days. We describe additional histopathologic findings associated with post-vaccinial non-viral folliculitis, which has only been described once previously. New findings include the presence of a neutrophilic or lymphohistiocytic infiltrate that is concentrated around the hair follicles. We compare our findings to the follicular nature of varicella and herpes zoster infections, generating the hypothesis of deposition of vaccinia protein within folliculosebaceous units as a potential pathophysiologic mechanism behind post-vaccinial non-viral folliculitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Bunick
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mariwalla
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Badri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imaeda
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McNiff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018859:Hair Follicle / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D012900:Smallpox Vaccine
keywords: bioterrorism; folliculitis; smallpox; vaccine; vaccinia