title: Neurological complications of herpes zoster.
abstract: We report 31 cases of herpes zoster (HZ) with neurological complications: 14 with cranial nerve deficits, 1 with cranial nerve deficit associated with segmental motor disorder, 3 with segmental motor deficits, 2 with meningoencephalitis, 2 with meningoencephalitis associated with cranial neuropathy or myelitis, 2 with meningitis, 2 with hemiplegia contralateral to the ophthalmic HZ. 1 with hemiplegia and motor deficit and finally 1 with hemiplegia and a cranial neuropathy. Smoking was the putative risk factor in 53% of our patients together with diabetes, which has already been mentioned in the literature. We frequently observed more than one complication in succession (19.3%) that could not easily be related to the cutaneous distribution. Acyclovir had no demonstrable positive effects on neurological complication in our patients.
authors.affiliation: Divisione Neurologica, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guidetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gabbi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Motti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferrarini
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003389:Cranial Nerve Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000209:etiology*; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000212:Acyclovir