Spinal cord involvement in uncomplicated herpes zoster

I. Steiner*, B. Steiner-Birmanns, N. Levin, K. Hershko, I. Korn-Lubetzki, I. Biran

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We prospectively evaluated herpes zoster patients during the acute phase of the disease for central nervous system involvement. Of 24 patients with spinal zoster, 13 (54%) had spinal cord abnormality, which was asymptomatic in 12 of the 13. Age but not lack of acyclovir treatment was associated with such involvement. In all but 2, neurological involvement resolved within 6 months. Although the mechanism responsible for the neurological abnormalities is unknown, findings may support the hypothesis that zoster is associated with spread of viral infection into the spinal cord and therefore support the possibility that zoster is due to active viral replication in the ganglion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)850-851
Number of pages2
JournalClinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

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