Progressive encephalitis three months after resolution of cutaneous zoster in a patient with AIDS. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Progressive encephalitis three months after resolution of cutaneous zoster in a patient with AIDS.

Ann Neurol. 1986 Feb;19(2):182-8. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/86185356
Ryder JW; Croen K; Kleinschmidt-DeMasters BK; Ostrove JM; Straus SE; Cohn DL

Abstract: A 37-year-old homosexual man with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) developed progressive, ultimately fatal, neurological deficits 12 weeks after a course of cutaneous zoster. Premortem radiological procedures and cerebrospinal fluid analyses were nondiagnostic. At postmortem examination, several opportunistic infections associated with AIDS were recognized. Throughout the brain, necrotic and demyelinative lesions were present, suggestive of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. However, light microscopical examination showed numerous Cowdry type A intranuclear inclusions in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons near the periphery of the lesions. Herpes zoster encephalomyelitis was diagnosed and confirmed by electron microscopy, peroxidase-antiperoxidase staining, and by Southern blot analysis of DNA extracted from brain tissue. This case provides insight into the pathogenesis of zoster-associated encephalomyelitis and suggests another agent to be considered in the differential diagnosis of encephalopathy in patients with AIDS and other disorders of immunological impairment.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Adult Brain/*PATHOLOGY Case Report Encephalomyelitis/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/PATHOLOGY Herpes Zoster/*COMPLICATIONS/DIAGNOSIS/PATHOLOGY Human Male Microscopy, Electron Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. JOURNAL ARTICLE

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M8670225

Copyright © 1986 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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