The following is a report of a case of herpes zoster occurring in a patient with chronic lymphatic leukemia and followed by a generalized varicelliform eruption and encephalitis. The rarity of these complications and the immunologic aspects posed by them make the case worthy of report.
The relationship between varicella and herpes zoster is well known.1 This relationship was reviewed by Brain,2 who performed original experiments indicating the close relationship and possible identity of the viruses of zoster and varicella. Director,3 in discussing a case of herpes zoster and varicella followed by a generalized varicelliform eruption, states that this eruption may be an intermediate state between varicella and uncomplicated zoster.
Herpes zoster occurs rather frequently in patients with lymphoblastoma,4 and when it does it is frequently followed by generalized spread of the lesions.5
Encephalitis is a very rare complication of herpes zoster, but it is