Rhabdomyolysis associated with acute varicella infection

We report two cases of intense, generalized rhabdomyolysis complicating varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infections, one in an adolescent and one in a young adult male. In both cases, myoglobinuria and weakness of large muscle groups developed within 5 days of the onset of vesicular lesions. A muscle biopsy from one of the individuals showed muscle fiber necrosis in the absence of acute inflammatory infiltrates or vasculitis. Culture of the muscle biopsy specimen for VZV was negative; however, the VZV genome was detected by the polymerase chain reaction. Both patients recovered fully after treatment with hydration therapy alone.