title: Purpuric herpes zoster in patients in therapy with clopidogrel.
abstract: Clopidogrel is an adenosine diphosphate receptor antagonist used for the prevention of vascular events in patients with atherothrombotic diseases manifested by recent myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or peripheral arterial disease. Diarrhoea, rash and pruritus are rather common side effects of clopidogrel. Other side effects include epistaxis, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer. Thrombocytopenia is the most common laboratory abnormality. Leucopenia and neutropenia are rare. We report three cases of purpuric herpes zoster in patients in therapy with clopidogrel. To our knowledge, only one case of haemorrhagic herpes zoster has been published in a patient in therapy with this drug.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, I.R.C.C.S. Foundation, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: stefano.veraldi@unimi.it.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Veraldi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, I.R.C.C.S. Foundation, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, I.R.C.C.S. Foundation, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nazzaro
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013988:Ticlopidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077144:Clopidogrel; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D013988:Ticlopidine; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Clopidogrel; HIV; Haemorrhagic herpes zoster; Herpes zoster; Purpuric herpes zoster