Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption in a Patient with Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Haemorrhagic crusted lesions over pre-existing pemphigus vulgaris erosions should arouse suspicion of Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE). Immediate treatment with antivirals helps to prevent mortality and morbidities. Here, we report a case of a 67-year-old male who developed haemorrhagic crusted lesions on pre-existing pemphigus lesions during his hospital stay and obtained almost 90% resolution of cutaneous lesions of Pemphigus vulgaris as well as Kaposi varicelliform eruption within 2 weeks of acyclovir treatment along with the continuation of systemic steroids. We also highlight the review of the literature of other reported cases with its management.

1. Introduction

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune intraepidermal blistering disorder of the skin and mucous membrane caused due to damage to intercellular adhesion structures, i.e., desmogleins resulting in acantholysis [1]. Kaposi varicelliform eruption (KVE) is a rare and potentially fatal viral infection typically due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 or 2, rarely by coxsackie A16 virus and vaccinia virus over a pre-existing dermatosis [2]. This phenomenon has been well studied in atopic dermatitis; hence, alternatively, KVE is also called eczema herpeticum. However, it is only rarely known to occur in patients with pemphigus vulgaris [3].

The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of KVE remain incompletely understood. It is assumed that the defective skin barrier, acting in conjunction with immune deficiencies (both cell-mediated and humoral immunity), is implicated [4]. Furthermore, treatment of these patients with systemic immunosuppressants also compromises the integrity of the immune system [3].

Antiviral therapy with acyclovir is the treatment of choice, which is usually combined with a systemic antibiotic to control heavy bacterial colonization [5]. Before the advent of acyclovir therapy, the mortality in cases of KVE was as high as 50%; now with specific acyclovir treatment, it is around 10% [6]. Here, a case of pemphigus vulgaris with KVE is being presented along with the review of the literature of other reported cases with its management.

2. Patient Information

A 67-year-old male had presented to Dermatology OPD of our hospital 8 months back with a history of oral erosions for 2 months and cutaneous erosions for 1 month and was diagnosed as pemphigus vulgaris (Figure 1). The patient was advised to take an oral steroid 60 mg daily along with other supportive treatments. In spite of proper counselling of the prognosis and long-term follow-up of pemphigus, he was taking prednisolone on and off and was unable to come for the follow-up because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Figure 1 

8 months prior to admission: hyperkeratotic plaque and erosions.

2.1. Investigations and Treatment

The patient presented again 5 weeks before the admission with multiple erosions that extended to the anterior chest and was advised to continue prednisolone 50 mg once daily, azathioprine (100 mg once daily), doxycycline (100 mg once daily), and nicotinamide (500 mg daily) for 5 weeks.

However, he failed to show satisfactory improvement (Figure 2), and his swab for bacterial culture and sensitivity revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensitive to piperacillin; hence, he was admitted to the dermatology ward and started on the same antibiotic and intravenous, dexamethasone 8 mg once daily along with skin care. After receiving these medications for 2 weeks, once the pseudomonas infection resolved, dose of dexamethasone was increased to 16 mg over the next 2 weeks, and the patient got significant improvement. However, 1 week after initiating steroid dose escalation, the patient developed few monomorphic haemorrhagic crusts on the cheeks overlying the pre-existing lesions (Figure 3), which progressed over the next week to involve bilateral cheeks, malar region, and bridge of the nose with few lesions in the forehead, bilateral ears, and chest. These lesions were associated with extensive cutaneous pain and myalgia (Figure 4).

Figure 2 

Day 1 of admission: extension of erosions despite high-dose oral steroids.

Figure 3 

Day 20 of admission: improvement of erosions but appearance of haemorrhagic crusts.

Figure 4 

Day 23 of admission: extensive haemorrhagic crusts in the face and few in the periphery of erosions in the chest.

Although he denied past history of herpes infection, his HSV-1 IgM and IgG also came out to be positive and hence was diagnosed as KVE. Then, he was immediately started on oral acyclovir 400 mg thrice daily, and dexamethasone was tapered rapidly to 9 mg from 16 mg once daily over a week (Figure 5). Further ophthalmological consultation was done, and herpes keratitis was ruled out. Within 1 week of the treatment, the crusts decreased significantly, and treatment was continued. The erosions also healed rapidly thereafter.

Figure 5 

Day 27 of admission: further extension of haemorrhagic crusts.

His comorbidities were type 2 diabetes mellitus, grade 2 benign prostatic enlargement, right nephrolithiasis, and osteopenia.

2.2. Outcome and Follow-Up

Once there was 90% resolution in the haemorrhagic crust, the patient was discharged on 60 mg prednisolone and oral acyclovir 400 mg thrice daily (Figure 6). Oral acyclovir was continued with the same dose for a total of 4 weeks until almost 100% improvement was achieved (Figure 7). After that, monthly tapering of the dose of oral prednisolone was done, and the patient was instructed to follow up via teledermatology consultation during the COVID-19 pandemic as he came from remote hilly area.

Figure 6 

90% resolution of lesions within 2 weeks of commencing oral acyclovir.

Figure 7 

Almost 100% improvement within 4 weeks of commencing antiviral treatment.

3. Discussion

Austrian dermatologist Moriz Kaposi first described KVE or eczema herpeticum. Some authors, however, define these two terms differently: eczema herpeticum as disseminated HSV infection over pre-existing eczematous skin disease and KVE as any disseminated cutaneous infection with HSV type 1 or 2 [5].

After an incubation period of about 3–10 days, KVE presents with disseminated eruption of closely grouped, painful, monomorphic, umbilicated vesicles, accompanied by fever, malaise, and regional lymphadenopathy. The vesicles tend to evolve rapidly to pustules or dry out, forming crusts over eroded areas during the course of the disease. The eruption is frequently located on the head, neck, and the upper part of the trunk and usually heals within 2 to 6 weeks [2]. In our case, one week prior to developing haemorrhagic crusts over pre-existing erosions, another patient residing next to our patient had developed herpes labialis and was started on oral acyclovir 400 mg thrice daily. On inquiring, our patient denied any previous herpes infection; hence, we concluded it to be the primary infection he had acquired from the nearby patient. We could not keep our patient in isolation due to logistic constraints secondary to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Recurrent episodes of KVE may occur [7]. Secondary bacterial infection, viremia, and multiorgan involvement are the important causes for mortality; and hence, KVE is a dermatological emergency. Ocular complications such as keratitis, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, uveitis, and loss of vision can also occur [2]. In our patient, herpes keratitis was ruled out after ophthalmological consultation. Here, we list the case series and reports of KVE with pemphigus vulgaris (Table 1).

Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption is diagnosed clinically, and investigations such as Tzanck smear and HSV serology are only supportive [2, 3]. Viral culture, direct fluorescence antibody staining, and polymerase chain reaction are the most reliable techniques for herpes simplex virus detection. Histological findings such as intraepidermal blister, acantholysis, ballooning degeneration of the keratinocytes, and multinuclear giant cells with intranuclear inclusion help in diagnosis of HSV infection [7]. In our patient, HSV-1 IgG and IgM both were positive which further supported diagnosis, but other investigations were not done due to logistic constraints.

A positive serology indicates present or past infection; IgM antibody testing cannot discriminate primary versus recurrent episodes of HSV infection, and a positive HSV IgG antibody serology cannot be used for diagnosis of an active infection (Figure 8). If both HSV IgM and IgG are positive, then it implies that infection date is indeterminate [15]. Thus, HSV serology only contributes as a supportive diagnostic tool [2]. In our patient, HSV-1 IgG and IgM both were positive on the 3rd week of exposure with the nearby patient which further supported the fact that he had primary infection.

Figure 8 

Graph of IgM and IgG response in HSV infection [15].

Treatment of KVE must be initiated with antivirals as soon as possible since it is a potentially life-threatening disease. No formal guidelines for antiviral treatment are established for treatment of KVE in immunobullous diseases, and different authors have followed different guidelines (Table 1). In a study by Lehman and el-Azhary, they used valacyclovir 1 g PO BD for 10 days or acyclovir 400 mg PO TDS for 10 days or ganciclovir during the first episode. In recurrent episodes, they initiated valacyclovir 1 g PO OD or acyclovir 400 mg PO BD as chronic suppressive therapy [3]. Zouhair et al. continued oral acyclovir until complete lesion resolution in herpetic superinfection of the pemphigus patient, and they observed relief in 5 to 20 days [16]. Similarly, our case achieved almost 100% resolution of lesions with 4-week acyclovir therapy. On the contrary, Rao et al. treated their patients with oral acyclovir 800 mg 5 times a day for 10 to 14 days [9]. The prodrug valacyclovir is converted into acyclovir during 1st-pass metabolism in the liver but has a better oral bioavailability than acyclovir [17].

Lehman and el-Azhary also considered reducing the dose of systemic immunosuppressants and claimed that patients with severe skin disease or with additional complications from the viral infection may require intravenous antiviral therapy [3]. In our patient, we continued oral acyclovir 400 mg thrice daily until complete resolution, i.e., 4 weeks, and dose of the systemic steroid was also decreased with significant improvement in patient’s symptoms.

Although we have tried our best to manage our patient, lack of PCR and immunological tests such as direct immunofluorescence, indirect immunofluorescence, and ELISA due to logistic constraints are the major limitations.

3.1. Patient’s Perspective

When I developed oral and skin erosions, I immediately consulted the doctors and was prescribed some oral and topical medications. However, they failed to improve the lesions which really made me frustrated. Nevertheless, I always had trust in my doctor, and as per their suggestion, I got admitted to ward. After that, my lesions healed significantly, and now, I am happy that almost all of my erosions are gone.

4. Conclusion

The diagnosis of Kaposi varicelliform eruption is usually made clinically. Appearance of umbilicated vesicular rash is the usual presentation, but haemorrhagic crusts over pre-existing lesions are an uncommon presentation as in our case. Investigations such as PCR, viral culture, histopathology, HSV serology, and Tzanck smear have only supportive value. It is also important to diagnose it in time and start antiviral treatment immediately as it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Acyclovir 400 mg PO TDS or 10 mg/kg IV or valacyclovir 500 mg PO BD until resolution of KVE is usually recommended. Similarly, the dose of corticosteroids can be decreased or stopped depending on the clinical status of pemphigus vulgaris and other immunosuppressants such as mycophenolate mofetil can be deferred until resolution of KVE.

Consent

Written informed consent for patient information and images to be published were obtained.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2020 Bibisha Baaniya and Sudha Agrawal. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.