Encephalitis Related to Primary Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in a Healthy Young Woman

Han, Su-Hyun; Shin, Hae-Won; Park, Kwang-Yeol; Youn, Young-Chul; Kwon, Oh-Sang; Ahn, Suk-Won

J Mult Scler > Volume 2(2); 2011 > Article

Case Report

Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 2011;2(2):52-55.
Published online September 1, 2011.

건강한 젊은 여성에서 동반된 수두대상포진 바이러스 뇌염

한수현, 신혜원, 박광렬, 윤영철, 권오상, 안석원

중앙대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Encephalitis Related to Primary Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in a Healthy Young Woman

Su-Hyun Han, Hae-Won Shin, Kwang-Yeol Park, Young-Chul Youn, Oh-Sang Kwon, Suk-Won Ahn

Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

"Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) encephalitis is uncommon in healthy adults. A previously healthy 21-year-old woman presented whole body skin rash with headache, nausea, and vomiting followed by tingling sensation in right upper and lower limbs. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis and brain magnetic resonance imaging presented multifocal lesions in left fronto-parietal cortex. Although the diagnosis of varicella-zoster virus encephalitis was not confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis or antibody test of CSF, the typical skin rash of VZV, and abnormal CSF and MRI results indicated VZV induced encephalitis. Acyclovir and high-dose corticosteroid gave good improvement. This is a case of varicella-zoster virus encephalitis in a healthy patient presenting with typical rash and clinic-radiologic features of encephalitis. Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 2(2):52-55, 2011"

Key Words: Varicella-zoster virus, Encephalitis, Chicken-pox