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- Title
Chronic Varicella-Zoster Virus Myelitis Without Cutaneous Eruption in a Patient with AIDS: Report of a Fatal Case.
- Authors
Manian, Farrin A.; Kindred, Meya; Fulling, Keith H.
- Abstract
We describe a fatal case of varicella-zoster virus myelitis that was preceded by neurological symptoms for 10 months in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection and an extremely low CD4 cell count (20//µL). The patient was also receiving chronic acyclovir therapy for suppression of herpes simplex. Despite chronic unilateral periauricular and facial pain, which was later accompanied by upper- and lower-extremity weakness, a cutaneous eruption never developed. It is hypothesized that a blunted inflammatory response in the spinal cord—possibly related to a very low CD4 cell count—and long-term acyclovir administration might have contributed to the atypical manifestation of varicella-zoster virus-related neurological disease in this immunocompromised patient.
- Publication
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 1995, Vol 21, Issue 4, p986
- ISSN
1058-4838
- Publication type
Article