Age: 77.0
Sex: M
Vaccine: VARZOS
Symptoms: Polymerase chain reaction, Varicella virus test negative
Clinical narrative: Information has been received from a physician concerning a 72 year old male patient with mild myelodysplastic syndrome previously treated with transfusions who on approximately 19-DEC-2011 ("one month ago"), was vaccinated with ZOSTAVAX (Merck) (dose, route and lot number not reported). The patient was instructed by his hematologist to get zoster vaccine live and than wait 1 month to start chemotherapy for the mild myelodysplastic syndrome. On approximately 5-JAN-2012 ("two weeks ago"), the patient experienced left flank pain. The patient was instructed to use a heating pad for 3-4 days. The patient returned to the office on 16-JAN-2012 in which the physician saw 1 large blister that was partially open and 4 large blisters that were closed. The patient was in more pain. The patient was diagnosed with shingles. The patient would be seen in the office 20-JAN-2012. At the time of the report the outcome of the patient was unknown. Follow up information has been received from a physician concerning a 77 year old (previously reported as 72 year old) patient with ASCVD, Type II DD, DJD, elevated cholesterol, PVD, AAA, glaucoma and a history of chickenpox in childhood and no recent exposure to chickenpox or herpes zoster who on 16-DEC-2011, was vaccinated with ZOSTAVAX (Merck) (0.65 ml, left arm, route not reported (lot number 671021/0747AA). Concomitant therapy included LASIX, GLUCOPHAGE, IMDUR, metoprolol, simvastatin (manufacturer unknown), GLUCOTROL XL, lisinopril, NIASPAN, timolol maleate 0.5% and TRAVATAN 0.02%. The physician reported that on 16-JAN-2012, the patient developed herpes zoster and pain from left back to abdominal. The patient had blisters. Patient used a heating pad himself for pain before known diagnosis. Dermatome involved L2-3. A lesion sample was collected on 20-JAN-2012. The sample was taken from a vesicular lesion. At the time of the report the patient was unknown. The patient was enrolled in the program to identify if a particular strain is present and if it is present, to identify if it is associated with the wild-type (WT) strain or with the Merck vaccine strain. Follow up information has been received from a physician concerning a patient, accountant, with mild TR, gallstones and a history of s/p CABG & R carotid endarterectomy and s/p fempopbypass and with no illness at the time of vaccination who on 16-DEC-2011, was vaccinated with the first dose of ZOSTAVAX (Merck). The physician reported that on 16-JAN-2012, the patient developed pain requiring pain meds with intensity of 10 (most). Dermatome involved left L2-3, number of lesions about 10. There was no fever to the physician knowledge. There was no other systemic symptoms. No photo was taken. The physician reported that the patient was on NEURONTIN at that time and the pain was decreasing some. The physician considered reported adverse experiences to be disabling. The PCR was received from a university indicating vesicular specimen was negative for VZV. At the time of the report the patient was not recovered (also reported as recovered). Additional information has been requested.