title: Gastric varicella: two cases in cancer patients.
abstract: Gastric involvement with the varicella-zoster virus is an uncommon clinical condition where early suspicion and diagnosis are important to prevent the consequences deriving from its high morbidity and mortality, which in immunocompromised patients oscillate between 9% and 41% according to the various series. Two cases of gastric involvement with the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in two patients with blood cancer are reported below. Gastric lesions are usually preceded by typical papulovesicular skin lesions. When gastric involvement is the first symptom of the disease its diagnosis and management may be delayed, which may entail severe consequences for immunocompromised patients. It is therefore that we suggest its inclusion in the algorithm for immunocompromised patients with abdominal pain and ulcer-like endoscopic lesions.
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: Violeta María
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Sastre Lozano
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martínez García
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torregrosa Lloret
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sevilla Cáceres
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romero Cara
authors.affiliation: Aparato Digestivo, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Cartagena, ESPAÑA.
authors.forename: Senador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morán Sánchez
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008875:Middle Aged; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir