Bullous Disseminated Herpes Zoster: An Atypical Presentation

Bullous herpes zoster masquerading as a bullous pemphigoid flare: A case report

Herpes zoster (HZ) results from the reactivation of dormant varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the posterior dorsal root ganglia manifesting as painful vesicles along the dermatomal distribution as shingles. The risk of reactivation is higher in immunocompromised patients. Herpes zoster lesions can have varied presentations including bullous forms, may induce BP flare, may co-exist in the same lesions, and should be included in the list of differentials for BP flares not responding to the standard of care. Here, we describe a case of a 74-year-old female with a history of recurrent bullous pemphigoid (BP) flares, who was on mycophenolate mofetil, and presented with skin lesions on her right thigh which were typical for her BP flares. Unlike prior flares, the lesions did not respond to prednisone therapy. Her hospitalization course was complicated by encephalopathy. Intravenous acyclovir was started empirically. Viral cultures and polymerase chain reaction from the lesions came back positive for VZV, but the patient succumbed to her illness shortly afterward.

A 24-Year-Old Female Transplant Recipient with Type 2 Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis and Disseminated Shingles: A Cautionary Tale of Deferring to Primary Care

In this report, the case of a 24-year-old Caucasian female with type 2 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis status-post living donor kidney transplant managed on triple regimen immunosuppressive therapy who developed shingles is discussed. With its onset, she promptly reached out to her nephrologist who deferred her to primary care. Prior to seeing her primary provider, she developed disseminated herpes zoster. She consulted emergency services where she was given inadequate care and again deferred to primary care. One day later, the dissemination included her entire torso, face, oral cavity, and all extremities. Fortunately, the patient had the insight to again reach out to her nephrologist who arranged for her to be admitted for appropriate care 6 days after her initial inquiry that carried 6 days of zoster progression. This case demonstrates how it is pertinent that specialists recognize potentially lethal complications associated with the conditions they follow. Although convenient to defer to primary care, if specialists were to take on the responsibility of providing a broader scope of care for their unique subsets of patients, it would likely result in a reduction in the 80% of serious medical errors that occur as a result of miscommunication, or lack thereof, between care providers.