ArticleBMC infectious diseases2018
Varicella zoster virus infections in neurological patients: a clinical study.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
44 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.
- Association between herpes zoster and Parkinson's disease and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
- Saikosaponin D Attenuates Postherpetic Neuralgia and Reduces Inflammation by Regulating Gut Microbiota in a Rodent Model.Biochemical genetics · 2026Article
- Lower lumbar and sacral herpes zoster with central nervous system complications: Two case reports.Dusunen adam : Bakirkoy Ruh ve Sinir Hastaliklari Hastanesi yayin organi · 2026Article
- Prognostic Factors and Clinical Characteristics of Varicella Zoster Virus Meningitis: Impact of Treatment Delay and Age-Related Differences in a Japanese Tertiary Hospital.Neurology international · 2026Article
- Sequelae of viral CNS infections including outcomes, mechanisms, and knowledge gaps.Npj viruses · 2025Review
- Kappa Free Light Chain Index and Oligoclonal Bands in Varicella Zoster Virus Infection and Neuroborreliosis: A Matter of Timing?European journal of neurology · 2025Article
- Rare complication of varicella-zoster virus infection: a case report of vernet syndrome in clinical and radiological evidence.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Article
- Neuroborreliosis with encephalitis: a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
- Post Varicella-Zoster virus transverse myelitis: Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges - A case report and literature review.IDCases · 2025Article
- Serum biomarkers and postherpetic neuralgia in herpes zoster patients with immunocompetent.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Prospective Analysis of Central Nervous System Infection Risks in Varicella-Zoster Virus Reactivation Cases: A Single-Center Prospective Study of 1030 Cases.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2024Article
- A Rare Case of Ramsey Hunt Syndrome With Cranial Polyneuropathy: Findings of the Brain MRI.Cureus · 2024Article
- Immune triggers preceding neuralgic amyotrophy.European journal of neurology · 2024Observational
- Article
- Causal links between blood inflammation markers and postherpetic neuralgia risk: insights from a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.Frontiers in neurology · 2024Article
- Trigeminal neuralgia due to Varicella-zoster virus reactivation.Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical · 2024Article
- Acute Viral Encephalitis Mimicking Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension in an Immunocompetent Obese Adolescent Girl.Cureus · 2024Article
- Varicella-Zoster Virus: A Case of Encephalitis.Cureus · 2023Article
- Early Diagnosis of Herpes Zoster Neuralgia: A Narrative Review.Pain and therapy · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
13 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVaricella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation is a common infectious disease in neurology and VZV the second most frequent virus detected in encephalitis. This study investigated characteristics of clinical and laboratory features in patients with VZV infection.
methodsTwo hundred eighty two patients with VZV reactivation that were hospitalized in the department of neurology in the time from 2005 to 2013 were retrospectively evaluated. Results from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were available from 85 patients.
resultsTrigeminal rash was the most common clinical manifestation, followed by segmental rash, CNS infection, facial nerve palsy, postherpetic neuralgia, and radiculitis. MRI of the brain performed in 25/33 patients with encephalitis/meningitis did not show any signs of infection in the brain parenchyma. Only one patient showed contrast enhancement in the hypoglossal nerve. General signs of infection such as fever or elevated CRP values were found in only half of the patients. Furthermore, rash was absent in a quarter of patients with CNS infection and facial nerve palsy, and thus, infection could only be proven by CSF analysis. Although slight inflammatory CSF changes occurred in few patients with isolated rash, the frequency was clearly higher in patients with CNS infection and facial nerve palsy.
conclusionMonosegmental herpes zoster is often uncomplicated and a diagnostic lumbar puncture is not essential. In contrast, CSF analysis is an essential diagnostic tool in patients with skin lesions and cranial nerve or CNS affection. In patients with neuro-psychiatric symptoms and inflammatory CSF changes analysis for VZV should be performed even in the absence of skin lesions.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.