Valcyclovir as a potential therapy for mycosis fungoides and vitiligo in a zosteriform pattern

Zosteriform mycosis fungoides and lymphomatoid papulosis arising in an area of prior herpes zoster

“… 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 Zosteriform MF is an exceedingly rare variant of MF characterized by lesions that occur in a dermatomal distribution. 11 In 1991, Williams et al 12 described a case in which several firm nodules in a zosteriform distribution over the left neck and shoulder were found to be MF on biopsy. Since then, a total of 6 patients have been reported to have zosteriform MF or CTCL, including our case ( Table I ).…”

“… 9 While the exact mechanism between herpes zoster and the development of MF is unknown, varicella-zoster virus is thought to play an important role in the development and maintenance of zosteriform skin lesions. 11 Lewis et al 13 described a case of zosteriform MF that was successfully suppressed with oral valacyclovir. Interestingly, the patient experienced disease recurrence on 4 separate occasions when antiviral therapy was either discontinued or the dose was reduced.…”

“…Additional hypotheses have implicated varicella-zoster virus reactivation in the pathogenesis of MF and herpes zoster as an infectious trigger initiating MF development. 11 , 16 However, given the rarity of this clinical variant of MF in the literature, more information is still needed on the exact mechanism linking varicella-zoster virus to MF development and the role of antiviral agents in the treatment of zosteriform MF.…”

Varicella‐zoster virus in actively spreading segmental vitiligo skin: Pathological, immunochemical, and ultrastructural findings (a first and preliminary study)

“…a good repigmentation following anti‐VZV treatments with valacyclovir reported in two cases of SV (Abdelmaksoud et al, 2019 ; Lewis et al, 2018 ).…”

“…Among the similarities shared between SV and HZ (a good model of VZV reactivation), we can mention the following features: frequent and similar quasi‐dermatomal or Blashkoid distribution (Gyula, 1982 ; Kwon et al, 2018 ) with unilateral or sometimes bilateral lesions (Kantari, 2015 ; Lee & Hann, 1998 ); some common physiological abnormalities in skin such as an increased blood flow (Wu et al, 2000 ) and a sweating impairment (Ushigome et al, 2017 ); a possible but rare occurrence of SV in the same location of the previous HZ (Kim et al, 2018 ) and, on the contrary, the onset of HZ over the same dermatome of preexisting SV (Gambhir et al, 2014 ); and a good repigmentation following anti‐VZV treatments with valacyclovir reported in two cases of SV (Abdelmaksoud et al, 2019 ; Lewis et al, 2018 ). …”