[GODREKR]

We describe a patient with pemphigus foliaceus who developed two distinct disseminated cutaneous viral infections. Our patient is an 83-year-old female with a recent diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus, who presented with painful ulcerations while on corticosteroids. Histopathology examination revealed disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV). Despite adequate treatment with anti-herpetic treatment, some ulcerations failed to heal. A second biopsy revealed the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV). This was treated successfully with appropriate antiviral therapy. In patients with autoimmune bullous disease, the development of new skin pain or new constitutional symptoms, change in primary morphology, rapid disease progression, or failure to respond to appropriate therapies should prompt the clinician to consider a concurrent cutaneous viral infection. There should be a low threshold to perform ancillary tests, to re-biopsy, and in severe cases, to consider empiric treatment with antiviral treatment therapy and modification of immunosuppressive regimens.

Figure 1. Anterior chest and neck, at presentation to the emergency department.


Figure 2. Twenty-one days after initial presentation showing painful, coalescing, geometric, and friable erosions.

[Shakey]