Clinical Study of Motor Paresis in In-patients with Herpes Zoster / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Although herpes zoster primarily affects afferent sensory neurons, it may complicated by motor nerve involvement in 0.5% to 5% of cases. However herpes zoster-induced muscle paresis is still under-recognized by dermatologists, and there has been insufficient clinical investigation of these conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the clinical aspects of motor nerve involvement of herpes zoster. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 711 patients with herpes zoster who had been admitted to our hospital in the departments of dermatology, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, neurology, neurosurgery and rehabilitation medicine between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS: Among the 711 patients with herpes zoster, 15 patients had motor paresis (2.1%). 11 patients (73.3%) had facial nerve palsy including one patient who had accompanying vagus nerve palsy. Besides, one case of trochlear nerve palsy, one case of hypoglossal nerve palsy, one case of upper limb paresis and one case of lower limb paresis were noted. Associated underlying diseases were observed in nine patients (60.0%). Duration of motor weakness ranged from 1 month to 4 years. Twelve patients (80.0%) achieved complete recovery. CONCLUSION: In our patient population, the incidence of motor involvement of herpes zoster was higher in cranial nerves, especially the facial nerve, than in spinal nerves. Although motor nerves are usually involved in relation to dermatome, cranial nerve palsy may occur regardless of its dermatome because of complicated anatomical association. The majority of cases recovered completely without any complications. Further prospective investigation with a large group of patients is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of motor nerve involvement of herpes zoster.

Encephalitis and Motor Paresis Caused by Herpes Zoster: A case report / 대한통증학회지

Encephalitis is known as a rare complication of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation. It is usually regarded as a complication of a cutaneous infection in patients with impaired cellular immunity. The reported incidence of herpetic motor involvement range between 0.5 and 31%, but is possibly more frequent as the weakness is readily obscured by pain. A 53-years-old woman, who presented with severe shoulder pain, fever, headache and seizure, which developed the day after skin eruptions, also developed motor paresis 7 days after the seizure. Her cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was VZV-Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative, but VZV specific IgG antibody positive, and her brain MRI was found to be normal. With the early diagnosis and proper treatment, such as intravenous administration of acyclovir, stellate ganglion block and Yamamoto New Scalp Stimulation (YNSS), the patient completely recovered, without psychoneurological sequelae. Herein, we present this case, with a discussion of the relevant literature on the incidence, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of central nervous system VZV involvement.