title: Herpes simplex virus lymphadenitis: the elusive doppelganger in immunocompromised patients.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus has protean manifestations and is an important cause of morbidity in the immunocompromised host. We report a case of recurrent lymphadenopathy and rash in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The elusive clinical diagnosis eventually required core biopsy of a lymph node with immunohistochemistry and confirmation by polymerase chain reaction. This case illustrates the challenging clinical and laboratory diagnosis of herpes simplex virus lymphadenitis and the need to maintain a high index of suspicion for infection when treating an immunocompromised patient with unusual and/or persistent symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Queen's University, Canada.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cases
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leduc
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Farmer
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Dick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Zoutman
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008199:Lymphadenitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral