title: IVIG treatment for VZV-related acute inflammatory polyneuropathy in a child.
abstract: Acute inflammatory polyneuropathy is an inflammatory demyelinating disease triggered by an autoimmune mechanism. It follows an infection or an immunisation after a free interval of 2-30 days. We report a case of a 14-year-old boy who develops an acute rapidly progressive paraplegia, urine incontinence and positive Lasegue a week after a characteristic chickenpox rash. Spinal MRI showed diffuse thickening and leptomeningeal enhancement of cauda equina nerve roots. Intravenous immunoglobulins were given and yielded a dramatic clinical and radiological improvement. The patient was discharged without any clinical problems 1&emsp14;month after the onset of symptoms. We performed a review of the literature, discussing the different forms of varicella-zoster virus-related central and peripheral nervous system complications and management strategies for acute postinfectious encephalomyelitis/radiculitis.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors: Danilo
authors: D
authors: Buonsenso
authors: Benedetta
authors: B
authors: Focarelli
authors: Piero
authors: P
authors: Valentini
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Onesimo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D007155:Immunologic Factors