title: Central nervous system infections caused by varicella-zoster virus.
abstract: We carried out a clinical and epidemiological study of adult patients with varicella-zoster virus central nervous system infection diagnosed by PCR in cerebrospinal fluid. Twenty-six patients were included. Twelve (46.2 %) patients were diagnosed with meningitis and fourteen (53.8 %) with meningoencephalitis. Twelve (46.2 %) had cranial nerves involvement (mainly the facial (VII) and vestibulocochlear (VIII) nerves), six (23.1 %) had cerebellar involvement, fourteen (53.8 %) had rash, and four (15.4 %) developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Three (11.5 %) patients had sequelae. Length of stay was significantly lower in patients diagnosed with meningitis and treatment with acyclovir was more frequent in patients diagnosed with meningoencephalitis. We believe routine detection of varicella-zoster virus, regardless of the presence of rash, is important because the patient may benefit from a different clinical management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. fc.chamizo@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Chamizo
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilarranz
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Melisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pena
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D020804:Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D016697:Herpes Zoster Oticus / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008587:Meningitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Cerebellitis; Meningitis; Meningoencephalitis; Ramsay Hunt syndrome; Varicella-zoster virus