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  • Title: Polymerase chain reaction detection and clinical significance of varicella-zoster virus in cerebrospinal fluid from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
    Author: Burke DG, Kalayjian RC, Vann VR, Madreperla SA, Shick HE, Leonard DG.
    Journal: J Infect Dis; 1997 Oct; 176(4):1080-4. PubMed ID: 9333172.
    Abstract:
    Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes ocular and other central nervous system (CNS) disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. To study the prevalence of CNS disease due to VZV, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 84 consecutive HIV-infected patients with new neurologic symptoms were tested for VZV DNA by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Six patients were PCR-positive for VZV in CSF; 3 additional patients were subsequently identified who were not part of the serial population sample. Among these 9 patients, all had clinical presentations consistent with ocular and other CNS disease due to VZV; 4 were without zoster on presentation. Sustained improvement in association with antiviral therapy was observed in 3. Therefore, VZV DNA was detected in the CSF of 7% of HIV-infected patients presenting with neurologic symptoms; the diagnosis of VZV-related CNS disease was facilitated by this assay; improvement in association with antiviral therapy was observed in some patients.
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