Cerebral vasculopathy associated with primary varicella infection
J. F. Caekebeke, A. C. Peters, B. Vandvik, O. F. Brouwer and H. M. de Bakker
Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
A previously healthy 5-year-old boy developed cerebral vasculopathy,
presenting as two episodes of acute hemiparesis 3 and 9 months,
respectively, after a primary varicella infection (chickenpox). This
association has not been reported before, to our knowledge, although
cerebral vasculopathy is a well-known complication of herpes zoster
ophthalmicus. The diagnosis was based on the presence of oligoclonal
varicella-specific IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid and angiographic
findings. Clinical and angiographic follow-up, and serial thymidine kinase
activity levels in the cerebrospinal fluid suggested a self-limiting course
of the virus-induced vasculopathy. Varicella zoster virus seems to be
another potential causative agent to be considered in acute childhood
hemiplegia.
