title: Cerebral vasculopathy associated with primary varicella infection.
abstract: A previously healthy 5-year-old boy developed cerebral vasculopathy, presenting as two episodes of acute hemiparesis 3 and 9 months, respectively, after a primary varicella infection (chickenpox). This association has not been reported before, to our knowledge, although cerebral vasculopathy is a well-known complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. The diagnosis was based on the presence of oligoclonal varicella-specific IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid and angiographic findings. Clinical and angiographic follow-up, and serial thymidine kinase activity levels in the cerebrospinal fluid suggested a self-limiting course of the virus-induced vasculopathy. Varicella zoster virus seems to be another potential causative agent to be considered in acute childhood hemiplegia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Caekebeke
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vandvik
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: de Bakker
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G