Going viral: fusiform vertebrobasilar and internal carotid aneurysms with varicella angiitis and common variable immunodeficiency

J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2009 Dec;4(6):528-31. doi: 10.3171/2009.7.PEDS09107.

Abstract

Intracranial aneurysms in the pediatric population are relatively rare entities. Immunocompromised patients (often from HIV/AIDS or pharmacological immunosuppression) represent a significant fraction of children with cerebral aneurysms. One proposed mechanism of aneurysm formation in these patients is from direct infection of the affected arteries. In this study, the authors report on a case of a 14-year-old girl with common variable immunodeficiency with T-cell dysfunction and a CSF polymerase chain reaction test positive for varicella-zoster virus who underwent evaluation for carotid and basilar artery fusiform aneurysms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acyclovir / analogs & derivatives
  • Acyclovir / therapeutic use
  • Adolescent
  • Aneurysm / complications*
  • Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm / drug therapy
  • Angiography, Digital Subtraction
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use
  • Basilar Artery
  • Carotid Artery Diseases / complications
  • Carotid Artery, Internal
  • Cerebral Angiography
  • Common Variable Immunodeficiency / complications*
  • Female
  • Herpes Zoster* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / complications*
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging
  • Intracranial Aneurysm / drug therapy
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Valacyclovir
  • Valine / analogs & derivatives
  • Valine / therapeutic use
  • Vasculitis / complications*
  • Vasculitis / virology*
  • Vertebral Artery

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • Valine
  • Valacyclovir
  • Aspirin
  • Acyclovir