Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42005579›Full record

ArticleCase reports in gastrointestinal medicine2026

Varicella-Zoster Virus-Associated Esophagogastritis.

Masaya Iwamuro, Takehiro Tanaka, Motoyuki Otsuka

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Varicella-Zoster Virus-Associated Esophagogastritis.Case reports in gastrointestinal medicine · 2026
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Masaya IwamuroDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan, okayama-u.ac.jp.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1757-5754
Takehiro TanakaDepartment of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan, okayama-u.ac.jp.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1509-5706
Motoyuki OtsukaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan, okayama-u.ac.jp.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2869-2881

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) typically manifests as varicella or herpes zoster; however, in immunocompromised patients, viral reactivation may result in disseminated infection with visceral organ involvement. Gastrointestinal involvement is particularly rare and often underrecognized. We report a case of biopsy-proven VZV-associated esophagogastritis in a patient with Richter syndrome undergoing chemotherapy. A 77-year-old man was admitted with abdominal pain, anorexia, and fatigue. On hospital Day 3, he developed disseminated papulovesicular skin lesions. Cytologic examination of vesicular fluid revealed multinucleated giant cells, and antigen testing confirmed VZV infection. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated erosions with white exudates in the esophagus and multiple gastric ulcers. Biopsy specimens from both the esophagus and stomach showed positive immunohistochemical staining for VZV. In addition, esophageal specimens exhibited characteristic viral cytopathic changes, including intranuclear inclusion bodies and multinucleation, confirming the diagnosis of VZV-associated esophagogastritis. Intravenous acyclovir therapy resulted in marked improvement of both cutaneous and gastrointestinal lesions. VZV-associated esophagogastritis is a rare but clinically significant manifestation of disseminated VZV infection. This condition should be considered in immunocompromised patients presenting with unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms, even before the appearance of characteristic skin lesions. Early endoscopic evaluation with biopsy and appropriate virological testing is essential for timely diagnosis and effective antiviral treatment.

Indexed as

chemotherapyendoscopic biopsyvaricella-zoster virus

Identifiers

PMID42005579
PMCPMC13084138

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.