Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2001, 195 (1)

Short Report

Acute Abdominal Pain Preceding Cutaneous Manifestations of Varicella Zoster Infection after Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation

MITSURU ITOH, SHINYA KAWAGUCHI, KAZUHIRO YAGO, HIDETO SHIMADA and HIROYUK IMURO¹

Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, and ¹Department of Pathology, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka 420-0881

The current communication describes clinical findings in two recipients of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with varicella zoster virus infection who complained of acute severe abdominal pain preceding cutaneous manifestations. Physical examination, laboratory data and gastroscopic findings were nonspecific. In these cases, acyclovir was very effective for the symptoms. Varicella zoster virus infection should be suspected in BMT recipients who have rebellant acute abdominal pain but no characteristic skin eruptions.

Keywords —— bone marrow transplantation; varicella zoster; abdominal pain; acyclovir; skin eruption

© 2001 Tohoku University Medical Press

===============================

Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2001, 195, 61-63

Address for reprints: Mitsuru Itoh, M.D., Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Shizuoka General Hospital, Shizuoka 420-0881, Japan.

e-mail: itomitsu-kyt@umin.ac.jp