title: Fulminant VZV infection in an adult AIDS patient treated with steroids: a case report.
abstract: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) typically causes a benign disease in childhood. However, VZV can lead to severe complication in immunocompromised patients, involving skin and nearly every organ system, with significant morbidity and mortality. VZV infection occurs more frequently in patients treated with steroids. Herein, we describe a case of rapidly fatal disseminated VZV infection with cutaneous and visceral involvement in an adult AIDS patient treated with steroids.
authors.affiliation: Second Infectious Diseases Division, INMI "L. Spallanzani", 00149 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.grilli@inmi.it.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grilli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, INMI "L. Spallanzani", 00149 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.baiocchini@inmi.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baiocchini
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, INMI "L. Spallanzani", 00149 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: franca.delnonno@inmi.it.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Nonno
authors.affiliation: Second Infectious Diseases Division, INMI "L. Spallanzani", 00149 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: nicola.petrosillo@inmi.it.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
authors.affiliation: Second Infectious Diseases Division, INMI "L. Spallanzani", 00149 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: vincenzo.galati@inmi.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Galati
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013256:Steroids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014781:Viscera / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D013256:Steroids
keywords: Fulminant disease; HIV; Steroid; VZV; Visceral involvement