Concomitant herpes - monilial oesophagitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: successful systemic anti-viral treatment

We present the case of a Saudi woman with known aggressive systemic lupus erythematosus who during immunosuppressive therapy developed ulcerative lesions of the oral cavity and oesophagus proven histologically to be due to concomitant herpes simplex infection and moniliasis. Successful treatment with systemic anti-viral and topical anti-fungal agents resulted in complete healing of the ulcers. Awareness by the clinician and the pathologist of the clinico-pathological features of herpes oesophagitis will allow prompt diagnosis and therapy. Life threatening complications such as herps simplex encephalitis, herpes pneumonia or disseminated herpetic infection in an immunocompromised host may thus be prevented