Speth P, Jargosch M, Seiringer P, et al. - Analysis of a dermatological patient population with chronic skin diseases revealed subclinical reactivation of Epstein‒Barr virus (EBV) and/or Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection as an under-recognized condition in them.

• A total of 206 patients with chronic skin diseases were screened for subclinical reactivation of EBV and CMV infection.

• Higher rates of subclinical reactivation of CMV and EBV infection (6.7% vs 0% for EBV and 16.7% vs. 5.6% for CMV) were found in immunocompromised patients with therapy-refractory chronic skin diseases vs nonimmunocompromised patients with chronic skin diseases.

• Similarly, the former group had a higher prevalence of virus-specific DNA in skin tissue (30.8% vs 0% for EBV and 21.4% vs 0% for CMV) than the latter.

• There was evidence for possible aggravation of the underlying skin diseases by viral infection.

• Antiviral treatment improved skin lesions in patients with reactivation of CMV infection (n = 4).