A case of herpes zoster with abducens palsy.
Only a few reports have focused on ocular motor paralysis in herpes zoster ophthalmicus. We report a case of ocular motor paralysis resulting from herpes zoster. The patient, an 80-yr-old woman, presented with grouped vesicles, papules, and crusting in the left temporal area and scalp, with diplopia, impaired gaze, and severe pain. Her cerebrospinal fluid analysis was positive for varicellar zoster virus IgM. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed to rule out other diseases causing diplopia; there were no specific findings other than old infarctions in the pons and basal ganglia. Therefore, she was diagnosed of abducens nerve palsy caused by herpes zoster ophthalmicus. After 5 days of systemic antiviral therapy, the skin lesions improved markedly, and the paralysis was cleared 7 weeks later without extra treatment.
Shin
Min-Kyung
MK
Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea.
Choi
Chun-Pill
CP
Lee
Mu-Hyoung
MH
D020434:Abducens Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006563:Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir