Clinical features and application of enzyme immunoassay in a herpes zoster meningitis series
Martínez Martín, P.; Estévez Guerra, E.; Grande Pérez, J.; Valenzuela Conthe, M.P.; Rapun Pac, J.L.; García Saiz, A.; Echevarría Mayo, J.M.
Medicina Clinica 84(4): 138-142
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 2984486 Document Number: 253356
Seven patients were admitted during a 10-mo. period due to aseptic meningitis (MA) with Herpes zoster (HZ). IgG antibodies anti-varicella-zoster could be demonstrated by enzyme immunoassy in the CSF of 6 patients; intratechal production of these antibodies was demonstrated in 3 patients. Five other patients with MA due to HZ were found from a 10-yr retrospective study. Together with the other patients, they formed a group that was compared to another group of 28 patients admitted during the same period for non-meningoencephalic complications due to HZ. The group with meningitis had a significantly lower mean age (28 .+-. 16 yr) than the other group (60 .+-. 23 yr) (P < 0,001) and had more males (P < 0,05). These findings agree with other reviewed reports. The clinical symptoms on admission were significantly different in both groups. MA due to Hz is rare and must be differentiated from other related syndromes related or not with this virus and confirmed by serology the diagnosis in these patients.