title: Detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA by polymerase chain reaction in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients suffering from neurological complications associated with chicken pox or herpes zoster.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with VZV infection associated with neurological symptoms. Positive results were obtained in three of five children with post-chicken pox cerebellitis and in seven of seven herpes zoster patients with neurological symptoms. The PCR thus provides a useful tool for the early diagnosis of VZV-associated neurological disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puchhammer-Stöckl
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Popow-Kraupp
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mandl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunz
mesh_terms: D002644:Chickenpox / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral