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Herpes zoster vasculitis: demonstration by MR angiography
L Sarazin1, H Duong, P M Bourgouin
1Department of Radiology, Montreal General Hospital, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.
Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography
|July 1, 1995
Summary
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus can lead to multiple cerebral infarcts due to intracranial vessel stenosis. Autopsy confirmed endarteritis as the cause of these strokes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) is a viral infection affecting the ophthalmic nerve.
- Cerebral infarcts, or strokes, occur when blood supply to the brain is interrupted.
- Vascular complications following HZO are rare but serious.
Observation:
- A patient developed multiple cerebral infarcts across different vascular territories.
- The infarcts occurred subsequent to treatment for HZO.
- Magnetic resonance angiography revealed focal stenoses in proximal intracranial vessels.
Findings:
- The observed intracranial stenoses were directly linked to endarteritis, inflammation of the inner lining of an artery.
- Autopsy findings confirmed the presence of endarteritis in the affected intracranial vessels.
- This suggests a causal link between HZO treatment and cerebrovascular inflammation.
Implications:
- HZO may be an underrecognized cause of central nervous system vasculitis and stroke.
- Clinicians should consider cerebrovascular complications in patients presenting with neurological symptoms post-HZO.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and incidence of HZO-associated vasculitis.