Introduction: Chickenpox is considered as a high risk factor for developing stroke in childhood, but descriptions in adult are exceptional (only three cases reported, to our knowledge).
Case report: A 37-year-old man presented with a chickenpox eruption, followed by a right parietal and a left occipital infarcts, associated with multiple lacunae. There was no coagulation disorder, no hypertension or cardiovascular disorder. Cerebral angiography showed an irregular narrowing of the right internal parietal artery and vascular defects in right parietal and left occipital areas. The diagnosis of VZV-related vasculitis was evoked. White cell count, serology and VZV PCR were negative in the cerebrospinal fluid. Clinical improvement was observed after treatment by corticosteroids and aciclovir.
Conclusion: Chickenpox is a rare cause of cerebral vasculitis. Involvement of both medium and small vessels was present here, contrary to other adult case reports in the literature. Hematogenous dissemination of the virus responsible for cerebral vasculitis seems to be the most probable pathophysiological mechanism.