[A clinical and pathological study on varicella-zoster virus pneumonia]

A 48-year-old male with Adult T-cell leukemia (case 1) and a 57-year-old with acute lymphocytic leukemia (case 2) died of rapid progressive pneumonia and pleuritis. Histopathological findings of the lungs were multifocal hemorrhagic coagulation necrosis, and typical Cowdry type A and full type intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in alveolar cells, bronchial cells, fibroblast, endothelial cells of small vessels, bronchial gland cells and pleural cells. Antigen against varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was positive in these cells by immunostaining, and the antigen was also demonstrated in other organs such as liver, spleen, pancreas, kidney, adrenal gland, esophagus, stomach, intestine and so on. Furthermore, cytomegalovirus was simultaneously superinfected lungs of both cases, and concomitant candida gastritis (case 1), aspergillus lung abscess and candida liver abscess (case 2) were observed. In the immunocompromised host VZV may involve the visceral organs and death may result from VZV pneumonia.