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Varicella‐zoster virus DNA in granulomatous skin lesions following herpes zoster
Author(s) -
Serfling Ulrike,
Penneys Neal S.,
Zhu WenYuan,
Sisto Manuel,
Leonardi Craig
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0560.1993.tb01245.x
Subject(s) - varicella zoster virus , virus , virology , polymerase chain reaction , dna , herpesviridae , granuloma annulare , medicine , pathology , biology , immunology , viral disease , gene , genetics , biochemistry
Granulomatous reactions at sites of previous cutaneous herpes zosier lesions occur, but their etiology is not known. Three tissue specimens from 5 cases identified clinically and hislologically as post‐zosteric granulomatous reactions were studied for the presence of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by the polymerase chain reaction using specific primers For VZV. VZV DNA was detected in 1 of 3 cases where the granulomatous reaction occurred immediately in the wake of resolving vesicular herpes zoster lesions. Finding viral DNA in earlier reactions probably represents residue from the active herpetic process. VZV DNA was not identified in granulomatous reactions arising between 1 month and up to 4 years after resolved herpes zoster. The negative result in these cases supports the hypothesis that there is no association between persistence of VZV DNA and granuloma formation. How long VZV DNA is detectable at sites of resolved herpes zoster lesions could be the subject of further studies.