Varicella Zoster Virus Cerebellitis Without a Rash in an Immunocompetent 85-Year-Old Patient. Issue 3 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shilo, Smadar; Wiener-Well, Yonit; Korn-Lubetzki, Isabelle
• Is Part Of: Neurologist. Volume 20:Issue 3(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Nervous System Diseases -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurologie; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000051
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1074-7931

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background:</title> <p>Reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV) in adults rarely presents with neurological symptoms without a rash. To our knowledge, so far, only 3 additional cases of VZV cerebellitis, which presented without a rash and were proven by cerebrospinal fluid analysis, have been reported in the literature.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Case Report:</title> <p>An immunocompetent 85-year-old patient presented with a new-onset tremor. He had no rash, had a normal brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and had minimal cerebrospinal fluid findings. Eventually, he was diagnosed as having varicella zoster virus cerebellitis only on the basis of a virological examination.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>The manifestation of a new-onset tremor and gait ataxia should raise a suspicion of cerebellitis caused by VZV, even in the absence of cutaneous manifestations or typical imaging findings.</p> </sec> </abstract>