Varicella zoster virus associated-polyradiculoneuritis in an elderly woman: A new subtype of varicella zoster virus neuropathy

Abstract

An 82-year-old Japanese woman without underlying disease was admitted to our hospital 3 days after she noticed lower-limb weakness. At presentation, she had lower-leg motor paralysis with mild upper-limb paresis and left Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings revealed moderate pleocytosis. A polymerase chain reaction for varicella zoster virus (VZV) DNA in CSF was positive. MRI using 3D Nerve-VIEW (Philips) and contrast T1 images showed high-intensity lesions on the L2–5 and S1–2 spinal roots. A new subtype of VZV-associated polyradiculoneuritis was diagnosed in this patient. We provide the case details and compare three similar reported cases.