A case of Disseminated Herpes Zoster in a patient with Multiple Sclerosis on Glatiramer Acetate

Abstract We present a case of Disseminated Herpes Zoster in a 73 year old man who had been taking Glatiramer acetate for 8 years as treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. He presented to the emergency room with complaints of a painful skin lesions on his buttocks and was found to have a generalized papulo-pustular rash. He was treated with IV Acyclovir and concurrent Piperacillin-Tazobactam plus Vancomycin for disseminated herpes zoster with a necrotic bacterial superinfection on his buttocks. Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic immune mediated disease of the CNS and is treated with immunomodulators and immunosuppressive medications. With more than 2 decades of Glatiramer acetate use, it is regarded as the safest immunomodulator without any associated reported infections. This is the first case of Disseminated Herpes Zoster associated with Glatiramer.