title: Varicella and stroke in children: good outcome without steroids.
abstract: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the only human virus known to replicate in arteries. After the acute infection, the virus persists in a noninfectious latent form in ganglia along the neuraxis, with intermittent periods of reactivation. Both primary and secondary reactivation are associated with stroke in children. These patients, regardless of the chosen treatment, have a high risk of recurrence, particularly those with worsening arterial stenosis. There are no specific therapy protocols for varicella-associated stroke in children, and the use of steroids or antiviral drugs is still controversial. We present a series of 4 children with stroke following varicella infection, with no recurrence and stable vascular stenosis at a mean follow-up of 18 months without steroid treatment. We also analyze possible correlations between anti-protein C, protein S and protein Z autoantibodies, and post-varicella arteriopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Padua, Italy. dr.luca.bartolini@gmail.com
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bartolini
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gentilomo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calderone
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simioni
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Laverda
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D013256:Steroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D013256:Steroids