Herpes zoster-varicella in cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.

The overall frequency of herpes zoster-varicella (HZV) infection in 221 patients with histologically confirmed cutaneous T-cell lymphoma was 10% (22 patients). The frequency of HZV infection and serious complications (viral dissemination, bacteremia) was relatively high in patients with evidence of extracutaneous involvement, especially in patients with Sézary syndrome. The major factors identified to account for this predisposition to HZV infection include intensive treatment with radiation therapy or drugs given for systemic effect and/or immunologic deficiency consequent to advanced disease. These observations are quite similar to those made in patients with Hodgkin's disease.