Chickenpox and multiple sclerosis: a case report.

Rösener, Martin; Dichgans, J.; Martin, Roland; Harms, F.

doi:10.1136/jnnp.58.5.637-a

Cited by 7 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 5 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The histologic lesions induced by the direct infection of VZV into the brain tissue are similar to those found in active MS, vasculopathy, neural axonopathy, mononuclear infiltration and demyelinization (11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Within the first possibility, it could be hypothesized that the systemic viral infection was followed by neural infection which provoked the demyelinating disease enhanced by the immune reaction against the virus.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster

Perez-Cesari¹,

Saniger²,

Sotelo³

2005

Acta Neurol Scand

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster

Perez-Cesari¹,

Saniger²,

Sotelo³

2005

Acta Neurol Scand

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Interferon therapy is effective in the primary VZV infections, antigens on PBMC from a patient with MS (case 26, table 3) during remission (left) and relapse (right); cells were stained with fluorescent antibodies against VZV proteins. Histograms are from a representative MS case during relapse; the arrow shows a high fluorescent intensity of lymphocytes marked with antibodies to VZV chickenpox and zoster; interestingly, it is also effective in MS, although the mechanisms for this have not been clarified [4,10,11,16,29]. Some patients develop MS soon after varicella or zoster infection [28,29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…Histograms are from a representative MS case during relapse; the arrow shows a high fluorescent intensity of lymphocytes marked with antibodies to VZV chickenpox and zoster; interestingly, it is also effective in MS, although the mechanisms for this have not been clarified [4,10,11,16,29]. Some patients develop MS soon after varicella or zoster infection [28,29]. The VZV has a distinctive ability for multiple pathogenicity related to the age of the host and to the cells infected [36]; in this way, the same virus may cause either chickenpox or herpes zoster or, we speculate, MS.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Failure to identify VZV by previous studies, either by virus isolation in culture, by disease transmission in experimental animals or by immunodiagnosis might be due to the peculiar characteristics of VZV: a) VZV has a strong cell-associated nature, which makes it extremely difficult to isolate the virus in culture [7,8,31,36,37,46]; b) it has a peculiar species-specificity for humans that prevents its transmission to experimental animals; c) antibodies to VZV are present in [7,8,11,44]; finally, d) the period of viremia in the typical VZV infections, varicella and zoster, is brief and restricted to few days at the beginning of infection [3,7,12,21,29]. Also, in contrast with other studies that have searched the virus by PCR technology, we separated the MS cases in two subgroups, relapse and remission, under the assumption that the causal factor for MS could be particularly evident during exacerbations and might either diminish or disappear during remissions, our results showed that in fact, the presence of the virus is critically limited to the initial days of exacerbation but not during the long periods of remission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Varicella-zoster virus at relapses of multiple sclerosis

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The possible participation of different herpes viruses was studied during exacerbations of multiple sclerosis (MS). We searched for the presence of DNA from the following herpes viruses: varicella zoster virus (VZV), herpes-simplex viruses 1 and 2; Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes-virus-6 (HHV6) in mononuclear cells from patients with MS during relapse (n = 40), MS during remission (n = 131) and controls (n = 125). Additionally, immune cells containing viral antigens were quantified by flow cytometry, and VZV load was determined by real time PCR in 2 MS patients at various times during relapse and remission. DNA from VZV was found in 95% of MS patients during relapse and in 17% during remission; all controls were negative; by contrast, DNA from HHV6 was found in 24% of MS patients during relapse and in 2% during remission; DNA from herpes simplex viruses was not found in any subject; and DNA from EBV was found in a similar percentage of subjects from all groups. Sequential quantification of VZV-load showed a curve that increased during relapse and disappeared at remission. Also, VZV antigens were found inside a large number of immune cells from MS patients during relapse as compared with MS patients on remission and controls. In the typical forms of VZV infection, varicella and herpes-zoster, DNA from VZV is found in mononuclear cells exclusively during brief periods at the beginning of the active infection, but not during latency; thus, the conspicuous presence of VZV during relapses of MS may indicate a period of active infection and suggests the participation of VZV in the pathogenesis of MS.

show abstract

“…These patients may present with complications as those seen in primary VZV infection (e.g., pneumonia and hepatitis) or with atypical manifestations [15,16,68,70] [76], myelitis [62], and meningoradiculitis [77], Detection of VZV DNA in cells of fluids or affected tissues has finally demonstrated the possibility of systemic or neurological disease associated with HZ without rash [1,7,56,78], VZV and Multiple Sclerosis. An association of VZV infection with multiple sclerosis (MS) has been suggested by many reports [79][80][81][82], Furthermore, remarkable im provements [83] and impairments [84] in the physical and functional condition of patients with MS. in relation to VZV infection, have been observed. An unknown envi ronmental factor, perhaps a viral infection, is considered to be important in the etiology of MS.…”

Section: Clinical Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infections of the Nervous System Caused by Varicella-Zoster Virus: A Review

1997

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a cause of neurologic disease among humans. Both primary infection and recurrence may lead to neurologic infection and disease. Neurologic syndromes associated with acute VZV infection are caused by abnormal immune responses, the most frequent manifestation being cerebellar ataxia. Those associated with recurrences are often due to the direct effect of viral replication in the nervous tissue. VZV reaches the nervous system either through the bloodstream or by direct spread from sensory ganglia where it remains latent. Postherpetic neuralgia, acute encephalitis, aseptic meningitis and myelitis are the most frequent diseases and have been recorded both in association with herpes zoster and in the absence of a cutaneous rash. Early diagnosis may be established by detecting virus-specific DNA sequences in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) after amplification by the polymerase chain reaction and then confirmed by detection of intrathecally produced, specific IgG antibody. Virus isolation from CSF and antibody testing in serum are unsuitable for diagnosis. Early acyclovir therapy is recommended in immuno-compromised patients and those with serious disease.

show abstract

Chickenpox and multiple sclerosis: a case report.

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster

Frequent association of multiple sclerosis with varicella and zoster

Varicella-zoster virus at relapses of multiple sclerosis

Infections of the Nervous System Caused by Varicella-Zoster Virus: A Review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About