NECROTIZING VASCULITIS IN A CASE OF DISSEMINATED NEONATAL HERPES-SIMPLEX INFECTION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 106  (2) , 64-67
Abstract
A term newborn suffered disseminated herpes simplex virus (HSV) type II infection 5 days after cesarean section delivery for fetal distress. The mother had no history or evidence of herpetic lesions; the father had a history of genital herpetic lesions. The infant''s terminal course was dominated by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) with hepatic and renal failure. Microscopic examination revealed a necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium-sized lung and peripancreatic arteries. Nuclear inclusions characteristic of HSV were found in these arteries, as well as in the adrenal parenchyma, spleen and lymph node; EM confirmed replication of virus within the arterial endothelial cells. The mechanism of arterial damage in severe herpetic infection contrasts with the immune-complex mechanism posulated for other viral vasculitides. Direct, virally induced arterial damage resulting in exposure of collagen may set the stage for DIC, a commonly fatal complication of this disease.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: