Multiple cerebral infarcts due to varicella-zoster virus large-vessel vasculopathy in an immunocompetent adult without skin involvement

Nasir M Ahmad; Susan E Boruchoff

doi:10.1086/375693

Multiple cerebral infarcts due to varicella-zoster virus large-vessel vasculopathy in an immunocompetent adult without skin involvement

Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Jul 1;37(1):e16-8. doi: 10.1086/375693. Epub 2003 Jun 24.

Authors

Nasir M Ahmad¹, Susan E Boruchoff

Affiliation

¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy, and Immunology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019, USA.

PMID: 12830433
DOI: 10.1086/375693

Abstract

We report the case of a 52-year-old immunocompetent man with varicella-zoster virus large-vessel vasculopathy and multiple bilateral cerebral infarcts who had no history of skin involvement. Etiologic diagnosis was made by isolation of varicella-zoster virus from a cerebrospinal fluid specimen. The patient had marked improvement in mental status after acyclovir therapy was initiated.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acyclovir / therapeutic use
Adult
Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
Cerebral Infarction / drug therapy
Cerebral Infarction / etiology*
Cerebral Infarction / virology
Herpes Zoster / cerebrospinal fluid
Herpes Zoster / complications*
Herpes Zoster / drug therapy
Herpesvirus 3, Human / drug effects
Herpesvirus 3, Human / isolation & purification*
Humans
Immunocompetence
Male
Skin

Substances

Antiviral Agents
Acyclovir