[Zoster encephalitis without rash: report of two cases (author's transl)]

Two previously healthy men, aged 54 and 41 years, fell ill with headaches and increased fatiguability, one also with vomiting, the other with fever, transitory visual disturbances and slight weakness of the left hand. Both of them had a stiff neck and clouded consciousness. The EEG had moderate to severe dysrhythmia, predominantly over the temporal area, CSF showed an increased cell count of 1000/3, predominantly lymphocytes, and increased protein. The younger patient also had global aphasia and the computed tomography indicated an area of decreased density in the left temporal region. In the CSF there were locally produced IgG. The clinical findings were similar to those of herpes encephalitis, but were milder and regressed more quickly. Severe months later only a few minor organic behavioural changes were present. Antibody findings in CSF and serum suggest varicella-zoster virus as the causative agent, although in both instances no rash was observed throughout the entire period of observation.