Fatal varicella-zoster virus meningoradiculitis without skin involvement.
A 77-year-old man with T-cell lymphoma developed an acute fatal meningoradiculitis of cranial nerve roots and cauda equina, pathologically and virologically confirmed to be caused by varicella-zoster virus. This is the first report of fatal varicella-zoster virus-induced neurological disease in the absence of skin lesions. Varicella-zoster virus should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute radiculoneuropathy in the immunocompromised patient, particularly because antiviral treatment for varicella-zoster virus exists.
Dueland
A N
AN
Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver 80262.
Devlin
M
M
Martin
J R
JR
Mahalingam
R
R
Cohrs
R
R
Manz
H
H
Trombley
I
I
Gilden
D
D
D000368:Aged; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002420:Cauda Equina; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000473:pathology*
D000956:Antigens, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral