title: Immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis of cutaneous viral infections--part I. Cutaneous viral infections by herpesviruses and papillomaviruses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous viral infections are of increasing clinical importance, particularly in patients who are immunocompromised.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the diagnosis of cutaneous infections provides a rapid morphological diagnosis and can be applied to confirm the diagnosis of specific viral infections that may be difficult to diagnose with certainty using routine microscopy alone, thus facilitating clinical decisions in patient care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several immunostains for specific viruses that have been useful in dermatopathology are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on new stains and novel uses of existing stains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This article is an up-to-date overview of the potential uses and limitations of IHC in the histopathologic diagnosis of cutaneous viral infections by herpesviruses and papillomaviruses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whereas specific monoclonal antibodies effectively distinguish infections by herpes simplex virus-1, herpes simplex virus-2, varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and cytomegalovirus, IHC does not distinguish between the 120 antigenically distinct strains of human papillomavirus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IHC may assist dermatopathologists to appropriately diagnose viral infections caused by herpesviruses and papillomaviruses.
authors.affiliation: *Associate Professor of Dermatology and Dermatologist (Dr Molina-Ruiz), Chairman and Professor of Dermatology (Dr Requena), Department of Dermatology; †Pathologist, Department of Pathology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain; ‡Dermatopathologist, Dermatophatologisches Gemeinschaftslabor, Friedrichshafen, Germany; and §Director of Dermatopathology and Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molina-Ruiz
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santonja
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rütten
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kutzner
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Requena
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D015415:Biomarkers