title: Herpes zoster-induced abdominal wall paresis: neurophysiological examination in this unusual complication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Herpes zoster affects essentially sensory fibres with segmental distribution. Abdominal wall paresis is a rare complication.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We present the case of a 72 year-old man with herpes zoster infection in T11-T12 left dermatomes and segmental abdominal wall protrusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electromyography (EMG) and dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEPs) were performed 27 days after symptoms onset.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EMG confirmed acute axonal lesion in left external oblique muscle and left paraspinal muscles at T11-T12 level and DSEPs assessed topographic distribution: there was no response in the left side at T12 dermatome. Three months following the onset of shingles, the abdominal wall protrusion had completely resolved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neurophysiological examination, including EMG and DSEPs, confirms motor and sensory loss in this unusual post-herpetic complication.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurophysiology Service, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. ssantiago.hulp@salud.madrid.org
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Santiago-Pérez
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nevado-Estévez
authors.forename: M Concepción
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Pérez-Conde
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*