Varicella-Zoster Virus Vasculopathy: The Growing Association Between Herpes Zoster and Strokes

• Published in: The American journal of the medical sciences Vol. 350; no. 3; p. 243
• Main Authors: Powell, 2nd, David R, Patel, Shiddhi, Franco-Paredes, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Acyclovir - administration & dosage; Acyclovir - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antiviral Agents - administration & dosage; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Brain Ischemia - drug therapy; Brain Ischemia - pathology; Brain Ischemia - virology; Herpes Zoster - drug therapy; Herpes Zoster - pathology; Herpes Zoster - virology; Herpesvirus 3, Human - isolation & purification; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Stroke - pathology; Stroke - virology
• ISSN: 1538-2990
• DOI: 10.1097/MAJ.0000000000000327

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is herpes virus that after its reactivation from nerve ganglia to cause herpes zoster may lead to a variety of neurologic complications, including encephalitis, meningitis, retinal necrosis or myelitis. In addition, VZV can spread to arteries in the central nervous system and cause hemorrhagic or ischemic complications due to an inflammatory vasculopathy. In fact, there is a growing epidemiological and clinical recognition that there is an association between VZV reactivation and subsequent strokes. Herein, we present a case of an immune compromised individual with reactivation of VZV causing dermatomal herpes zoster followed by multifocal vasculopathy. We also review the literature to highlight key aspects of VZV-associated vasculopathy.