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Varicella with delayed contralateral hemiparesis detected by MRI
1Division of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Pediatric Neurology
|March 1, 1990
Summary
Varicella infection can lead to delayed hemiparesis in children. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed varicella zoster virus vasculopathy as a potential cause for this rare neurological complication.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Varicella infection, commonly known as chickenpox, can rarely lead to neurological complications.
- Delayed contralateral hemiparesis following varicella is a recognized but infrequent syndrome.
Observation:
- A 3 1/2-year-old boy presented with hemiparesis four weeks after a varicella infection.
- This patient is the first reported case of varicella-associated hemiparesis to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Findings:
- Computed tomography (CT) in prior cases typically showed infarcts in the basal ganglia and internal capsule.
- MRI findings in this patient suggest a varicella zoster virus-related vasculopathy.
Implications:
- The findings suggest that varicella zoster virus (VZV) vasculopathy may be the underlying mechanism for delayed hemiparesis post-varicella.
- This highlights the importance of considering VZV vasculopathy in the differential diagnosis of stroke in children following varicella infection.
- Further research using advanced imaging like MRI is crucial for understanding the pathogenesis of such rare neurological sequelae.