title: Zoster encephalitis. Isolation of virus and measurement of varicella-zoster-specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid.
abstract: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) was isolated on two occasions from the cerebrospinal fluid of an elderly woman with encephalomyelitis complicating thoracic zoster. Antibodies to ZV-induced membrane antigen (FAMA) were present in cerebrospinal fluid in a titer of 1:64; serum antibodies were 64-fold higher. Further evidence for local antibody production was derived from simultaneous measurements of immunoglobulin G and albumin in cerebrospinal fluid and serum and calculation of a cerebrospinal fluid-IgG index.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000418:Albumins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012709:Serum Albumin