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Kaposi's varicelliform eruption. Absence of ocular involvement.
D P Fivenson1, D L Breneman, A H Wander
1Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, (Ohio) College of Medicine.
Archives of Dermatology
|August 1, 1990
Summary
Kaposi's varicelliform eruption (KVE), often caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), rarely leads to eye disease. This study found no ocular complications in KVE patients despite facial herpes, suggesting ocular pathology is uncommon.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Virology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Kaposi's varicelliform eruption (KVE) is a vesicopustular syndrome complicating dermatoses, frequently atopic dermatitis.
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is the most common inciting agent for KVE.
- Ocular involvement is rarely reported in KVE cases, despite frequent facial skin lesions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence of ocular herpetic disease in patients with Kaposi's varicelliform eruption.
- To determine if widespread facial HSV involvement in KVE correlates with ocular pathology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series of 10 patients diagnosed with KVE.
- Clinical examination for ocular herpetic disease.
- HSV culture from conjunctival swabs in a subset of patients.
Main Results:
- None of the 10 patients with KVE developed clinical evidence of herpetic ocular disease.
- All patients had extensive facial cutaneous involvement with herpetic lesions.
- HSV was cultured from conjunctival swabs in 3 of 3 tested patients, indicating ocular exposure.
Conclusions:
- Ocular exposure to HSV is common in Kaposi's varicelliform eruption.
- Despite potential exposure, herpetic ocular pathology is an uncommon sequela of KVE.
- Widespread facial herpes in KVE does not appear to significantly increase the risk of ocular complications.