Acyclovir-Resistant Varicella Zoster Responsive to Foscarnet

To the Editor.— Acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus (HSV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients has been reported, often after long-term therapy with acyclovir.1In some cases the lesions responded to foscarnet (trisodium phosphonoformate) therapy.1Acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster virus (VZV) has also been reported with increasing frequency in HIV-infected patients, and is commonly associated with chronic localized verrucous skin lesions.2,3Although in vitro sensitivity to foscarnet has been reported, we believe that this is the first report in which chronic lesions due to acyclovir-resistant varicella zoster virus have resolved after treatment with foscarnet. Report of a Case.— A 24-year-old white man with acquired HIV infection (Walter Reed Stage VI) presented with a history of herpes-zoster occurring in the left C7-8 dermatome in July 1989. The cutaneous lesions were typical vesicular lesions of VZV. The patient was treated with high-dose oral acyclovir (4 g/d for 10 days) with apparent