title: Ramsay Hunt syndrome with facial vesicular rash: a unique clinical presentation in a kidney transplant patient.
abstract: Ramsay Hunt Syndrome (RHS) is the result of herpes zoster virus reactivation producing hearing loss, pain and vesicles in the ear or mouth, along with ipsilateral facial palsy due to the 7th cranial nerve geniculate ganglion infectious involvement. This condition has not been previously described, particularly in transplant patients. A 38-year old man underwent kidney transplantation and two years later experienced an ache on the left side of the face and hearing loss in the ear, also exhibiting vesicular lesions and concomitant facial peripheral palsy. Acyclovir IV was initiated, and the prednisone dose was increased. The patient was discharged 15 days later, feeling better but still exhibiting dark spots on his face. At three months follow-up he was asymptomatic, showing notable palsy improvement. Until this case, herpes zoster facial lesions causing typical RHS have never been reported in literature, particularly in kidney transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS) School of Medicine, Post-Graduation Program, Porto Alegre, Brasil. abaete@pucrs.br.
authors.forename: Carlos Abaeté
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de los Santos
authors.forename: Ivan Carlos Ferreira
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Antonello
authors.forename: Vicente Sperb
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Antonello
authors.forename: Florência
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barreiro
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005076:Exanthema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir