title: Post varicella zoster virus myelitis in immunocompetent patients.
abstract: We report 2 immunocompetent patients with myelitis. The first was a 55-year old man who developed myelitis after intercostal herpes zoster. The second was a 19-year-old boy who presented with myelopathy after varicella infection. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) myelitis was diagnosed based on the close temporal relationship between rash and onset of clinical symptoms, and by the elevated rate of anti-VZV IgG in the CSF without oligoclonal bands in the first case, and presence of VZV DNA in the second. The course was favorable after a 3-day course of corticosteroids and 3 weeks of acyclovir. Varicella-zoster virus myelitis is uncommon; it affects essentially immunodepressed patients. We highlight the importance of considering the possibility of VZV myelitis, even in immunocompetent patients. The combination of corticoids and acyclovir must be instituted, quickly, to improve functional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sahloul Hospital, 4054 Sousse, Tunisia. kaffelsana@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben-Amor
authors.forename: Turkia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lammouchi
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benslamia
authors.forename: Soufiene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benammou
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009187:Myelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir