Laboratory diagnosis of herpesvirus infections in patients with Pemphigus vulgaris lesions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disorder that has an etiology impacted by genetic and exogenous factors. Viral infections, in particular herpesvirus infections, have been identified as possible PV triggers which in addition cause serious complications in these patients. This study investigates the frequency of herpesvirus infections in patients with PV lesions.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequence analyses were used to determine the presence of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1/2, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and human herpesvirus types 6, 7, and 8 (HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8) DNA in 105 mucosal and/or skin swabs harvested from 23 patients presenting with PV lesions.

RESULTS

Thirty-six samples collected from 17 patients were positive for at least 1 virus; 3 were positive for HSV-1, 2 for HSV-2, 2 for CMV, and 7 each for HHV-6 and HHV-7. Coinfections were observed in 15 samples. Infections with VZV, EBV, HHV-6A, and HHV-8 were not detected. Herpesvirus infections were detected in 21% (13/62) of reactivated lesions, 54.5% (18/33) in persistent lesions, 40% (2/5) in exacerbated lesions, and 60% (3/5) in lesions in remission.

CONCLUSION

PV lesions which do not show improvement following administration of adequate immunosuppressive therapy should be screened for the presence of herpesvirus infections.