Persistent Genital Herpes and Herpetic Whitlow Associated with Malignant Thymoma

—Virological Studies—

Abstract

A case of persistent genital herpes and herpetic whitlow associated with malignant thymoma was studied. The lesions lasted for more than 6 months in the presence of high titers of neutralizing antibody to herpes simplex virus (HSV). Suppressed states of cell-mediated immunity of the patient were evidenced by the measurement of lymphocyte proliferative responses to lectins. Two strains of HSV were isolated from each lesions and both were the HSV type 2. Endonuclease analysis of viral DNA revealed that these two isolates were closely related.