Meningoencefalitis por virus Varicella-Zóster posterior a infección por SARS-CoV2: Reporte de dos casos / Meningoencephalitis caused by Varicella-Zoster virus after SARS-CoV2 infection: Two cases report

RESUMEN La meningoencefalitis por el VZV es una patología poco frecuente que se presenta con la reactivación del virus dentro del organismo. OBJETIVO: Describir la presentación clínica de dos pacientes con neuroinfección por VZV posteriormente a infección por SARS-CoV-2. REPORTE DEL CASO: El primer caso corresponde a un hombre de 59 años con antecedente de neumonía moderada por SARS-CoV-2 que después cursó con meningoencefalitis por VZV y, además, desarrolló un síndrome de Ramsay Hunt. El segundo caso es el de una mujer de 37 años con antecedente de infección leve por SARS CoV-2 con un cuadro de cefalea con signos de alarma, en quien se documentó neuroinfección por VZV

ABSTRACT Meningoencephalitis caused by varicella zoster virus is a rare pathology that presents due to the reactivation of the virus in the organism OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation of two patients with VZV neuroinfection presented after a SARS CoV-2 infection. CASE REPORT: The first case is a 59 year old male with previous moderate SARS CoV-2 infection who presented meningoencephalitis and was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt's Syndrome. The second case is a 37 year old female with previous SARS CoV-2 infection who presented with an acute onset headache and was documented with VZV neuroinfection.

¿Encefalopatía o encefalitis por varicela-zóster? Una paciente con una punción lumbar engañosa / ENCEPHALOPATHY OR VARICELLA-ZOSTER ENCEPHALITIS? A PATIENT WITH A TRICKY LUMBAR PUNCTURE

La encefalopatía es un cuadro clínico característico de múltiples procesos neurológicos y sistémicos que no hay que confundir con la encefalitis, que es una inflamación cerebral, normalmente causadas por infecciones virales. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 58 años con enfermedad renal crónica en diálisis peritoneal, que ingresa por sepsis de origen peritoneal con clínica de encefalopatía y crisis epilépticas parciales. La paciente presenta lesiones de herpes zóster en zona lumbar y se practica punción lumbar, con resultado del líquido cefalorraquídeo positivo para virus varicela-zóster, por lo que completa tratamiento con aciclovir. En la resonancia magnética no presenta ninguna alteración, y una segunda punción lumbar tras mejoría de las lesiones cutáneas es negativa. El curso de la paciente es fluctuante durante el ingreso, con mejoría significativa tras antibióticos, hemodiálisis y tratamiento antiepiléptico, y no respondiendo al aciclovir. La etiología sospechada es la debida al contexto infeccioso y metabólico de la paciente. Probablemente el resultado del líquido fue contaminado por la proximidad de las lesiones herpéticas, ya que además no es frecuente encontrar encefalitis infecciosas agudas sin alteraciones en las pruebas de imagen. La mejoría final fue debida tanto a la medicación antiepiléptica como al inicio de hemodiálisis

Encefalopathy is a clinical syndrome ocurring in multiple neurologic and systemic diseases which must not be mistaken with encephalitis, that is a cerebral inflammatory process, often caused by viral infections. We present the case of a 58-year-old woman with chronic renal failure receiving peritoneal dyalisis, who was admitted into hospital for sepsis secondary to infectious peritonitis, with encefalopathy and epileptic partial seizures. The patient presented lumbar herpetic cutaneous lesions and a lumbar punction is practiced, with a positive result in the cerebrospinal fluid for varicella-zoster virus. Treatment with aciclovir was completed. Her cerebral magnetic resonance was absolutely normal, and a second lumbar puncture when herpetic lesions got better was negative. The course is fluctuating during the stay, and a significant clinical improvement occurs after antibiotics, hemodyalisis and antiepileptic treatment. The patient did not respond to aciclovir. The suspected ethiology is the infectious and metabolic context. Positivity for the virus is thought to be a contamination from the nearby herpetic lesions. Also, it is rare for an infectious acute encephalitis to present with normal radiologic imaging. The final clinical improvement was probably due to hemodyalisis initiation and the antiepileptic treatment.

Meningoencefalitis por herpesvirus varicelazóster como síndrome inflamatorio de reconstitución inmune. Una manifestación clínica infrecuente / VARICELLA-ZOSTER HERPESVIRUS MENINGOENCEPHALITIS AS AN INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME OF IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION. An uncommon clinical manifestation

El uso cada vez más difundido de la terapia antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) en el tratamiento de los pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) puede dar lugar a respuestas paradojales, caracterizadas por un empeoramiento de las manifestaciones clínicas o la reactivación de ciertas infecciones oportunistas, hasta ese momento subclínicas, como el Herpes varicela-zóster (HVZ). Este cuadro clínico se conoce desde hace años como síndrome inflamatorio de reconstitución inmune (SIRI). Puede afectar a más del 30% de los pacientes seropositivos para el VIH con un tiempo de aparición promedio de 8 a 12 semanas luego del inicio o cambio de TARGA. El HZ mucocutáneo representa entre el 7% al 12% de los episodios de SIRI en estos pacientes. En este trabajo, se presenta un paciente VIH seropositivo que desarrolló un episodio de HVZ cutáneo monometamérico asociado a compromiso del sistema nervioso central bajo la forma de un síndrome meningoencefalítico

The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has resulted in a paradoxical response associated with the worsening of clinical symptoms of previously subclinical infections, such as herpes varicella-zoster (HVZ). This clinical picture is named as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). It may affect up to 30% of HIV-seropositive subjects within a wide range of time after the initiation or change of HAART, but mainly after 8 to 12 weeks. Mucocutaneous HZ accounts for 7%-12% of the diseases associated with HIV infection in patients with immune reconstitution from the administration of HAART. Here we present an HIV seropositive patient that developed an episode of cutaneous metameric eruption of HVZ associated with central nervous system involvement as meningoencephalitis syndrome.

Encephalitis associated with Zika virus infection and reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in a Brazilian child

Abstract We report a case of encephalitis associated with Zika virus infection and reactivation of varicella-zoster virus in the central nervous system of a Brazilian child. This case raises the possibility that reactivation of the latent varicella-zoster virus may be a mechanism of neurological impairment induced by acquired Zika virus infection.

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Herpes-zoster Meningoencephalitis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Many studies about herpes zoster are available in Korean dermatological literature. However, only a few of them reported herpes zoster meningoencephalitis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology and clinical features of herpes-zoster meningoencephalitis compared with herpes zoster without meningoencephalitis. METHODS: We examined the medical records of 3,154 patients with herpes zoster, who had visited our hospital from January 2008 to March 2016. Among them, 159 patients underwent cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Fifty-one patients who were diagnosed with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis and the 3,103 patients who were without meningoencephalitis were subjected to examinations to assess the incidence rates, the age distribution, the ganglion distribution, severity of acute pain, postherpetic neuralgia, serum VZV IgM and IgG, the clinical aspects, the underlying diseases, and the presence of complications. RESULTS: The rate of herpes zoster meningoencephalitis was 1.61%, with a mean age of 53.95 years, and the female-to-male patient ratio was 1.68. The trigeminal nerve was the most frequently involved dermatome (53.7%), with the ophthalmic branch (V1) involved at a rate of 68.96% among them. The serum VZV IgM was significantly higher in herpes zoster meningoencephalitis compared with herpes zoster without meningoencephalitis. Dizziness, mental change, palsy, and myalgia with nausea/vomiting showed high predictive values. All the patients were treated with acyclovir for 10~14 days, and 1 of them expired (1.96%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrated that herpes-zoster meningoencephalitis was associated with high serum levels of VZV IgM compared with herpes zoster without meningoencephalitis. When a patient with herpes zoster has symptoms of headache and nausea/vomiting with dizziness, mental status change, palsy, or myalgia, herpes-zoster meningoencephalitis should be considered.

MENINGOENCEPHALITIS DUE TO VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS IN AIDS PATIENTS. REPORT OF ELEVEN CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE / Meningoencefalite pelo vírus varicela-zoster em pacientes com AIDS. Relato de onze casos e revisão da literatura

Neurological complications of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) are infrequent and include various clinical pictures. The reactivation of VZV in patients with AIDS is generally associated with an acute and severe meningoencephalitis. We report the epidemiological, clinical and virological data from 11 consecutive patients with diagnosis of HIV/AIDS and central nervous system (CNS) involvement due to VZV. All patients were male and seropositive for HIV. The primary risk factor for HIV infection was unprotected sexual contact. The median of CD4 T cell count was 142 cells/µL. All of them presented signs and symptoms of meningoencephalitis. Six patients (54.5%) presented pleocytosis; they all showed high CSF protein concentrations with a median of 2.1 g/dL. Polymerase chain reaction of cerebrospinal fluid specimen was positive for VZV in all of them and they were treated with intravenous acyclovir at doses of 30/mg/kg/day for 21 days. Overall survival was 63% (7 of 11 patients). The four dead patients had low cellular counts in CSF, below the median of this parameter. VZV should be included among the opportunistic pathogens that can involve CNS with a diffuse and severe meningoencephalitis in patients with advanced HIV/AIDS disease.

As complicações neurológicas do vírus varicela-zoster (VVZ) são pouco frequentes e incluem vários quadros clínicos. A reativação do VVZ em pacientes com AIDS é geralmente associada com meningoencefalite aguda e grave. Nós relatamos os dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e virológicos de onze pacientes consecutivos com diagnóstico de HIV/AIDS e comprometimento do sistema nervoso central (SNC) devido ao VVZ. Todos os pacientes eram do sexo masculino e soropositivos para HIV. O principal fator de risco para a infecção pelo HIV foi o contato sexual sem proteção. A mediana da contagem de células CD4 T foi de 142 cel/µL. Todos apresentavam sinais e sintomas devido à meningoencefalite. Seis pacientes (54,5%) apresentaram pleiocitose; todos apresentaram hiperproteinorraquia com mediana de 2,1 g/dL. A reação em cadeia da polimerase de amostra do líquido cefalorraquidiano foi positiva para VVZ em todos eles. Todos os pacientes foram tratados com aciclovir por via intravenosa em doses de 30 mg/kg/dia durante 21 dias. A sobrevida global foi de 63% (sete de 11 pacientes). Os quatro pacientes mortos tiveram uma escassa resposta celular no LCR abaixo da mediana para este parâmetro. O VVZ deve ser incluído entre os patógenos oportunistas que podem comprometer o SNC com meningoencefalite difusa e grave em pacientes com doença avançada por HIV/SIDA.

Acute meningoencephalomyelitis due to varicella-zoster virus in an AIDS patient: report of a case and review of the literature / Meningoencefalomielite aguda pelo vírus varicela-zoster em um paciente com AIDS: relato de um caso e revisão da literatura

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) meningoencephalomyelitis is a rare but severe neurological complication of VZV reactivation in immunocompromised patients. We report the case of an HIV-infected individual who developed an acute and severe meningoencephalomyelitis accompanied by a disseminated cutaneous eruption due to VZV. The presence of VZV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. The patient started undergoing an intravenous acyclovir therapy with a mild recovery of neurological manifestations. Varicella-zoster virus should be included as a cause of acute meningoencephalomyelitis in patients with AIDS. Early diagnosis followed by specific therapy should modify the rapid and fulminant course for this kind of patients.

A meningoencefalomielite pelo vírus varicela-zoster (VVZ) é uma complicação neurológica rara mas grave da reativação do VVZ em pacientes imunocomprometidos. Nós relatamos o caso de um indivíduo infectado por HIV que desenvolveu uma meningoencefalomielite aguda e grave acompanhada por uma erupção cutânea por causa do VVZ. A presença do DNA do VVZ no líquor foi confirmada pela técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). O paciente iniciou uma terapia intravenosa com aciclovir com uma leve recuperação das manifestações neurológicas. O vírus varicela-zoster deve ser incluído como uma causa de meningoencefalomielite nos pacientes com AIDS. O diagnóstico precoce seguido por terapia específica pode modificar o curso rápido e fulminante deste tipo de pacientes.

Las encefalitis herpéticas: encefalitis producidas por la familia herpes / Herpetic encephalitis: encephalitis produced by the herpes family

La familia herpesviridae presenta seis virus neurotropos (herpes virus simpletipo 1 y 2, el varicela-zóster, citomegalovirus, herpes virus humano tipo 6 yel Epstein-Barr) que son conocidos por su capacidad de producir encefalitisen niños y adultos. La encefalitis producida por el herpes virus simple tipo 1es la mejor conocida, el resto guarda una serie de incógnitas relativas a susmanifestaciones clínicas, diagnósticas y terapéuticas no bien dilucidadashasta el momento. La aplicación de técnicas de biología molecular aplicadasal LCR han permitido una expansión del conocimiento en la materia. La actualrevisión pretende una puesta al día en la materia desde la literatura consultaday el pequeño aporte de nuestra experiencia, resaltando las similitudes ydiferencias entre estas encefalitis.

A Clinical Study on Herpes Zoster Meningoencephalitis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster meningoencephalitis is a rare neurological complication and the known risk factors include an immunocompromised status, infiltration into the trigeminal ganglion, disseminated herpes zoster and elderly patients. Serious complications may develop, including cerebral hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE: As early diagnostic detection is mandatory to prevent long-term sequelae, we wanted to determine what signs and symptoms we should focus on for diagnosing zoster meningoencephalitis at an early stage. We also investigated the descriptive statistics of the patients and compared them with the patients who had non-complicated herpes zoster. METHODS: We examined the medical records of 5114 herpes zoster patients who had visited our clinic from 1996 through 2009. Among them, 18 patients who were diagnosed with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis by cerebrospinal fluid tests were subject to examinations to assess the incidence rates, the age distribution, the ganglion distribution, the clinical aspects, the underlying diseases and the presence of complications. RESULTS: The ages of the patients with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis showed that 50% of the patients were under 30 years old. Infiltration into the trigeminal ganglion and immunocompromising underlying diseases accounted for 50% and 16.7% of the total patients, respectively. In the case of disseminated herpes zoster patients, no meningoencephalitis developed. The rates of neck stiffness and fever, which are the most common symptoms of meningoencephalitis, were lower in the patients with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis (33.3% and 11.1%, respectively). However, headaches accompanied with nausea or vomiting showed high sensitivity (88.9%), and a high positive predictive value (69.6%) (p<0.001). All the patients were treated with acyclovir for 10~14 days, and cerebral hemorrhage occurred in 1 of them (5.5%) after treatment. CONCLUSION: When a patient with herpes zoster has symptoms of headache and nausea or vomiting then herpes zoster meningoencephalitis should be considered even if neck stiffness and fever are not present.

A Clinical Study on Herpes Zoster Meningoencephalitis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster meningoencephalitis is a rare neurological complication and the known risk factors include an immunocompromised status, infiltration into the trigeminal ganglion, disseminated herpes zoster and elderly patients. Serious complications may develop, including cerebral hemorrhage. OBJECTIVE: As early diagnostic detection is mandatory to prevent long-term sequelae, we wanted to determine what signs and symptoms we should focus on for diagnosing zoster meningoencephalitis at an early stage. We also investigated the descriptive statistics of the patients and compared them with the patients who had non-complicated herpes zoster. METHODS: We examined the medical records of 5114 herpes zoster patients who had visited our clinic from 1996 through 2009. Among them, 18 patients who were diagnosed with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis by cerebrospinal fluid tests were subject to examinations to assess the incidence rates, the age distribution, the ganglion distribution, the clinical aspects, the underlying diseases and the presence of complications. RESULTS: The ages of the patients with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis showed that 50% of the patients were under 30 years old. Infiltration into the trigeminal ganglion and immunocompromising underlying diseases accounted for 50% and 16.7% of the total patients, respectively. In the case of disseminated herpes zoster patients, no meningoencephalitis developed. The rates of neck stiffness and fever, which are the most common symptoms of meningoencephalitis, were lower in the patients with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis (33.3% and 11.1%, respectively). However, headaches accompanied with nausea or vomiting showed high sensitivity (88.9%), and a high positive predictive value (69.6%) (p<0.001). All the patients were treated with acyclovir for 10~14 days, and cerebral hemorrhage occurred in 1 of them (5.5%) after treatment. CONCLUSION: When a patient with herpes zoster has symptoms of headache and nausea or vomiting then herpes zoster meningoencephalitis should be considered even if neck stiffness and fever are not present.

Encefalitis por virus varicela zoster: a propósito de un caso / Encephalitis by varicella zoster virus: a propos of a case

Se trata de una paciente blanca, femenina, de 79 años, que en el curso de un herpes zoster oftálmico comienza con manifestaciones clínicas neurológicas, que se interpretaron inicialmente como reacciones adversas al tratamiento oral con aciclovir; siendo el sistema nervioso central la localización extracutánea más frecuente de este herpes virus; y la forma más común de afectación neurológica en esta infección es una encefalitis, se pensó en esta entidad a pesar de su atipicidad no reportada en la bibliografía consultada, lo que motivó a realizar una revisión exhaustiva de este tema. La paciente evolucionó satisfactoriamente con desaparición de los síntomas y signos clínicos.

It deals with a 79-years-old, white, female patient, beginning with neurological clinical manifestations in the course of ophthalmologic zoster herpes. Initially they were interpreted as adverse reactions of the acyclovir treatment. Being the central nervous centre the most frequent extra-cutaneous location of this herpes virus, and encephalitis the most common neurologic affection in this infection, we thought about this entity despite of its atypicity, which was not found in the consulted bibliography. It motivated us to make an exhaustive review of this theme. The evolution of the patient was positive, disappearing the clinic signs and symptoms.

Varicella-zoster virus encephalitis in an AIDS patient

A 37-year-old man with a three-year history of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome was admitted with impaired consciousness, seizures and fever. He was on highly active antiretroviral therapy and on neurotoxoplasmosis secondary prophylaxis. Laboratory exams from two months before showed a CD4 cell count of 37/µL and a viral load of 230,000 copies/mL. Three months before admission he developed herpetic skin rash in the right trunk and acyclovir was added to his treatment regimen. On physical exam he was drowsy and had motor and sensory aphasia. The patient had elevated protein levels and normal pressure in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan of the brain showed a hypodense lesion in the left parietal lobe, with poorly defined margins and no contrast enhancement. The magnetic resonance scan (MRI) showed multiple hyperintensities in T2-weighted image in white and grey matters and hypointense products of hemorrhage in both hemispheres and in the cerebellum. He was empirically treated with intravenous acyclovir and prednisone. Viral DNA of Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was detected in the CSF by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Acyclovir was continued for 10 days and the patient became well, with improvement of aphasia.We present a case of VZV encephalitis, confirmed by nested PCR, in a patient with suggestive MRI findings, who succeeded with treatment. VZV encephalitis is a rare opportunistic infection, occurring in 0.1 to 4 percent of AIDS patients with neurological disease; it is related to severe immunodeficiency and has a high mortality.

Imágenes en encefalitis herpética: presentación de un caso y hallazgo en tomografía axial computarizada / Images in herpetic encephalitis: presentation of a case and discoveries in on-line axial tomography

La encefalitis herpética es una infección cerebral poco frecuente, causada por el virus del Herpes simplex tipo 1 y caracterizada por un compromiso clínico agudo y muchas veces fatal. Aunque la afección puede comprometer todo el encéfalo, se conoce bien el tropismo del virus por los lóbulos temporales y frontales, y muy particularmente por las estructuras del sistema límbico, lo cual explica las manifestaciones clínicas y tomograficas, altamente sugestivas de la enfermedad. El cuadro clínico se caracteriza por cefalea, fiebre, trastornos de la conducta y alteración de la conciencia, los cuales pueden evolucionar en un periodo de horas o varios días. Pueden también presentarse crisis epilépticas focales o generalizadas con alucinaciones gustativas u olfatorias, alteraciones autonómicas y algunas veces déficit neurológico focal. La histopatología muestra una forma severa de encefalitis necrohemorrágica con gran destrucción parenquimatosa en las regiones comprometidas, usualmente bilateral y asimétrica. El diagnóstico, inicialmente fruto de la sospecha clínica, se apoya en los hallazgos imagenológicos, tanto en tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) como en resonancia magnética (RM) de cerebro, así como también en el estudio serológico del LCR, ambos son altamente sugestivos de esta patología, pero la única prueba realmente confirmatoria es la reacción de polimerasa en cadena para detectar el ADN viral. Desafortunadamente en nuestro medio no es posible realizar frecuentemente este tipo de estudio, por lo que es necesario apoyar más el diagnóstico en hallazgos clínicos e imagenológicos de fácil alcance. Se presenta un caso y especialmente la revisión de los hallazgos en la tomografía axial computarizada de cerebro, algunos de los cuales pueden considerarse casi patognomónicos

Encefalitis herpética: un caso en la unidad de ciudado intensivo UCI pediátrica del Hospital Occidente de Kennedy, Bogotá / Herpetic encephalitis: a case in the pediatric unit of intensive care of the Hospital of Kennedy, Bogotá

Presentamos el caso de una lactante con diagnóstico confirmado de encefalitis herpética mediante la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR), hallazgos típicos por imágenes y pronóstico favorable a corto plazo

Investigation of an epidemic of Reye's syndrome in northern region of India.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent, epidemiological and clinical features of an epidemic of non-inflammatory encephalopathy in northern region of India. DESIGN: Surveillance of referred cases having unconsciousness after a short bout of fever during October and November 1997. Case control study in 7 most affected villages. METHODS: Active case finding was done to assess the extent and severity of the epidemic by interviewing health professionals and by reviewing mortality records in 10 districts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh. A house to house survey was conducted in seven most affected villages. A case was defined as any child of less than 15 years of age, who had prodromal fever followed by vomiting and unconsciousness with subsequent recovery or death. Two age and sex matched controls who had fever without unconsciousness were taken for each case, one from nearby house and another staying furthest from the affected house. These groups were compared for various epidemiologic factors, clinical features and treatment pattern. Residual medicines used by affected patients were tested for presence of salicylate. Local village practitioners were interviewed for their knowledge and attitude towards use of aspirin in a febrile child. RESULTS: Information regarding 129 affected children (M: F=1 : 1) could be obtained. Age ranged between 1 to 12 years (mean 5.8 years). Most were from rural or semi-suburban areas. Attack rate was 5.4/1000 and case fatality rate was 72%. Multiple sibs were affected in 9.3%. History of fever was reported by 83%, vomiting preceding unconsciousness by 83% and abnormal behavior by 65%. Abnormal posturing was reported in 55%. Seventeen (61%) of 28 samples had IgM antibodies in serum/CSF against measles. Twelve (36%) of 33 serum samples tested positive for Varicella zoster virus. None gave history of aspirin intake and 10 samples of residual drugs did not contain salicylate. However, 6 out of 19 blood samples taken from affected patients contained salicylate. Environmental factors were in favor of Japanese encephalitis (JE) but brain biopsy and serology disproved it. Based on earlier report of JE from this area, the cases in present epidemic were being reported as JE before this study was undertaken. Intensive fogging with malathion was being undertaken as antimosquito measure, specially around the affected houses. Local village practitioners (n = 37) were unaware of contraindications of aspirin in a febrile child. CONCLUSION: Measles and varicella zoster emerged as the probable etiologies for the viral prodrome precipitating these cases of Reye's syndrome. Aspirin might have a contributory role. Malathion is another putative cofactor.

A Case of Herpes Zoster Meningoencephaliti / 대한피부과학회지

Herpes zoster can be associated with a number of neurologic complications but meningoencephalitis with herpes zoster is rarely seen. We report a case of herpes zoster ophthalmicus followed by the meningoencephalitis, which developed during treatment with acyclovir infusion. A 73-year-old male patient developed a fever and mental confusion on the third day of the treatment. Neurological examination revealed neck stiffess, increased deep tendon reflex and positive Babinski sign. The cerebrospinal fluid examination revealed increased opening pressure, increased protein and a lymphocytic pleocytosis. The glucose level was decreased, which is a very unusual feature in viral meningoencephalitis.

Herpes zoster meningoencephalitis with decreased CSF glucose level-A case report and review of literatures

We report a case of decreased cerebrospinal fluid glucose with lymphocytic pleocytoisis in a patient with herpes zoster meningoencephalitis. The finding was likely to be confused with that of tuberculous meningoencephalitis. The concentration of CSF glucose is a critical point in the differential diagosis of various causes of nervous system infection. Although the herpes zoster meningoencephalitis isa well recognized, cases with markedly low, level of CSF glucose has been rare. We reviewed such unusual cases in the literature that were accompanied by hypoglycorrhachia. The duration of hypoglycorrhachia was transient. This suggests a differential point from that of tuberculous meningitis.