Contralateral stroke with rapid recovery in a patient of herpes zoster ophthalmicus

ABSTRACT

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus commonly presents with vesicular eruptions of skin along a dermatome and post herpetic neuralgia. Viral invasion into the intracranial vessel and resultant arteritis is rare complication, reported mainly in elderly, children and immunocompromised individuals. We report a young immunocompetent male who reported to us with acute right sided hemiparesis following an episode of left sided herpes zoster ophthalmicus three months prior to stroke. Patient had a near complete recovery of his weakness without any treatment with persistent mild dysarthria. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed subacute infarct in left middle cerebral artery territory. Magnetic resonance angiogram demonstrated marked narrowing of the proximal segment of left middle cerebral artery. This case highlights herpes zoster ophthalmicus as one of the causes of stroke in young with good prognosis.