Varicella-zoster virus DNA in granulomatous skin lesions following herpes zoster. A study by the polymerase chain reaction.

Granulomatous reactions at sites of previous cutaneous herpes zoster lesions occur, but their etiology is not known. Three tissue specimens from 5 cases identified clinically and histologically as post-zosteric granulomatous reactions were studied for the presence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by the polymerase chain reaction using specific primers for VZV. VZV DNA was detected in 1 of 3 cases where the granulomatous reaction occurred immediately in the wake of resolving vesicular herpes zoster lesions. Finding viral DNA in earlier reactions probably represents residue from the active herpetic process. VZV DNA was not identified in granulomatous reactions arising between 1 month and up to 4 years after resolved herpes zoster. The negative result in these cases supports the hypothesis that there is no association between persistence of VZV DNA and granuloma formation. How long VZV DNA is detectable at sites of resolved herpes zoster lesions could be the subject of further studies.