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Pain Physician 2021 May;24(3):253-261

Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Background: Herpes zoster is an acute infectious skin disease that is induced by the re-activation of the virus incubated in nerve ganglions following initial infection with varicella-zoster virus in childhood. Herpes zoster mainly affects sensory nerves, resulting in severe acute pain, which is also the most common reason for medical intervention in this patient group. The concurrent involvement of motor nerves could induce the symptoms of segmental zoster paresis, which is manifested by localized asymmetric myasthenia, whose range generally follows the distribution of myomere with skin rashes. Read More

Pain Physician 2021 May;24(3):215-222

Department of Pain Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang City, China.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the final stage of varicella zoster infection and a severe refractory neuropathic pain. Hence preventing transition of herpes zoster-related pain to PHN is a very important therapeutic principle for patients at an early stage, especially for older patients.Both pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) and short-term spinal cord stimulation (stSCS) have been proven to be effective to relieve acute/subacute zoster-related pain. Read More

Turk J Med Sci 2021 May 14. Epub 2021 May 14.

Background and aim HIV infection increases the risk of serious disease resulting from common vaccine-preventable infections. Vaccinations are particularly important for HIV infected adults. We aimed to investigate the immunity rates against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis A, B and tetanus in newly diagnosed HIV patients. Read More

PLoS One 2021 13;16(5):e0251644. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Public Health Analysis and Data Management, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden.

Objectives: Comprehensive cost-effectiveness analyses of introducing varicella and/or herpes zoster vaccination in the Swedish national vaccination programme.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analyses based on epidemiological results from a specifically developed transmission model.

Setting: National vaccination programme in Sweden, over an 85- or 20-year time horizon depending on the vaccination strategy. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2021 May 12. Epub 2021 May 12.

Department of Dermatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei, 230001, Anhui Province, China.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of acute herpes zoster. The treatment of PHN remains a challenge for clinical pain management. The present study investigated the P2X7 receptor antagonist brilliant blue G (BBG) whether inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress and pyroptosis (a necrotic form of cell death) and alleviates PHN. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2021 May;58(5):483-484

State Health Society, IDSP, National Health Mission, Shri VBCH Campus, Silvassa, India.

Study describes epidemiological and laboratory findings of the fever with skin-rash cases (n=247) reported from Dadra and Nagar Haveli during 2018-19. For laboratory diagnosis, 33 sera and 5 blister swabs were obtained from 36 suspected cases. Varicella-zoster-virus DNA PCR and IgM EIA confirmed 33 cases and sequencing revealed circulation of clade-1 viruses. Read More

Mult Scler Relat Disord 2021 May 1;52:102988. Epub 2021 May 1.

Danish Multiple Sclerosis Center, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Background: Anti-CD20 antibody therapy may be associated with an increased risk of infections. We therefore investigated risk factors for infection in patients with demyelinating diseases treated with anti-CD20 antibody therapy.

Methods: In this retrospective uncontrolled study, patients ever treated with anti-CD20 antibodies at an academic clinic were identified through the Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry (DMSR). Read More

WMJ 2021 Apr;120(1):74-77

Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Meningitis caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is uncommon in immunocompetent patients. We report 3 cases of VZV meningitis with rash in immunocompetent adults from a single academic institution over a 1-year period. The low prevalence of VZV meningitis in this population is attributed to lack of early recognition or underreporting. Read More

J Infect Dis 2021 May 11. Epub 2021 May 11.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

Background: Infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) may involve different central nervous system (CNS) manifestations, including meningitis, encephalitis, and vasculitis. In cases where otherwise healthy individuals are affected, an inborn error of immunity may underlie increased susceptibility or severity of infection.

Methods: We collected a cohort of 17 adults who experienced VZV encephalitis and performed whole exome sequencing. Read More

Digestion 2021 May 10:1-9. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of infection and are frequently not up to date with their immunizations.

Objectives: This study aims to review vaccination status and evaluate whether age, disease type, or treatment regimen could predict the absence of seroprotection against selected vaccine-preventable infection in adults with IBD.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using questionnaire, immunization records review, and assessment of tetanus-specific, varicella-specific, and measles-specific immunoglobulin G concentrations. Read More

Ageing Res Rev 2021 May 7:101351. Epub 2021 May 7.

Aging Research Center, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, Stockholm, Sweden.

Untangling the interdependency of infections, immunity and frailty may help to clarify their roles in the maintenance of health in aging individuals, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted such priority. In this scoping review we aimed to systematically collect the evidence on 1) the impact of common infections such as influenza, pneumonia and varicella zoster on frailty development, and 2) the role played by frailty in the response to immunization of older adults. Findings are discussed under a unifying framework to identify knowledge gaps and outline their clinical and public health implications to foster a healthier aging. Read More

J Infect Dis 2021 May 8. Epub 2021 May 8.

Retired Consultant Virologist.

BMJ Case Rep 2021 May 7;14(5). Epub 2021 May 7.

Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida Physicians Family Practice Medical Group, Gainesville, Florida, USA

A 70-year-old man with a history of invasive anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with excision and chemoradiation presented to the emergency department with right-sided neck pain and submandibular lymphadenopathy. CT imaging of the head and neck was unrevealing. The patient eventually developed cranial nerves X and XI dysfunction, manifesting as severe vocal cord paralysis (dysphonia), dysphagia, asymmetric palate elevation/deviation and trapezius muscle atrophy, in addition to scalene muscle atrophy. Read More

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

Department for Health Economics and Health Care Management, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.

Introduction: Several chronic underlying conditions (UCs) are known to be risk factors for developing herpes zoster (HZ) and to increase the severity of HZ and its risk of recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and recurrence of HZ in adult patients with one or multiple UCs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study based on claims data representing 13% of the statutory health insurance population from 2007 to 2018 in Germany was performed. Read More

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2021 30;14:419-423. Epub 2021 Apr 30.

N. Paulescu National Institute of Diabetes, Bucharest, Romania.

SARS-CoV-2 has recently been associated with the reactivation of varicella zoster virus in patients. This is potentially an observation of a local susceptibility of the skin in areas of vesicle formation. This article explores the dermatologic manifestations that have been linked to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, their infectious risk, as well as potential confounding factors. Read More

Exp Clin Transplant 2021 May 6. Epub 2021 May 6.

From the Department of General Surgery, Post Graduate institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is an acute immune-mediated demyelinating, polyneuropathy, which is usually provoked by a preceding infection. Guillain-Barre syndrome lies within the spectrum of disimmune neuropathies and usually occurs in immunocompromised patients because it is theoretically contradictory. Guillain-Barre syndrome in liver transplant recipients has been rarely reported. Read More

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2021 May 5. Epub 2021 May 5.

Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar.

In recent years, an association between granuloma annulare and the occurrence of malignant cutaneous lymphomas in the sense of a facultative paraneoplasia has been observed several times. The aim of the present work is to provide an overview of the currently available literature on granuloma annulare as well as an analysis of its association with cutaneous lymphomas. Using the example of two patients with granuloma annulare and associated cutaneous lymphomas, we would like to sensitize clinically active dermatologists and dermatopathologists to the possible association between these two diseases. Read More

Immunol Invest 2021 May 3:1-24. Epub 2021 May 3.

Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Medicine and Pathology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, SUNY at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA.

Vaccines are an essential part of a preventative healthcare strategy. However, response to vaccines may be less predictable in immunocompromised people. While outcomes for individuals with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases have dramatically improved with treatment using immunomodulating and biologic agents, infections have caused significant morbidity in these people today often more than due to their underlying diseases. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

1Institut Pasteur de Dakar, Unité de Virologie Médicale, Dakar, Sénégal.

Herpesviruses are known to cause a diversity of clinical syndromes, ranging from minor cutaneous lesions to life-threatening illnesses, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Here, we investigate retrospectively the contribution of five human herpesviruses, including herpes simplex virus Cytomegalovirus (CMV), the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) in serum samples collected from measles suspected patients with at least fever and rash. Sera specimens were first tested for serological evidence of measles and rubella virus infection by ELISA, and DNA extracted from an aliquot of each clinical specimen for molecular detection of human herpes viruses by RT-qPCR. Read More

Neuroradiology 2021 May 3. Epub 2021 May 3.

Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.

Purpose: Beyond vessel wall enhancement, little is understood about vessel wall MR imaging (VW-MRI) features of vasculitis affecting the central nervous system (CNS). We reviewed vessel wall MR imaging patterns of inflammatory versus infectious vasculitis and also compared imaging patterns for intracranial versus extracranial arteries of the head and neck.

Methods: Studies reporting vasculitis of the CNS/head and neck and included MR imaging descriptions of vessel wall features were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and EMBASE up to June 10, 2020. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2021 Apr 24. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Department of Dermatology. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria la Princesa (IIS-IP). Hospital Universitario de La Princesa.

BMC Ophthalmol 2021 May 1;21(1):194. Epub 2021 May 1.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been known to cause unilateral corneal endotheliitis with keratic precipitates and localized corneal edema, iridocyclitis, and secondary glaucoma. CMV endotheliitis is diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and viral examination using qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the aqueous humor.

Case Presentation: An 80-year-old woman was referred to our department for bullous keratopathy. Read More

BMC Ophthalmol 2021 May 1;21(1):193. Epub 2021 May 1.

Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the aqueous humor (AH) T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines of acute retinal necrosis (ARN) to elucidate the immunologic inflammatory features of this disorder.

Methods: Three patients with ARN infected with varicella zoster virus (VZV) who underwent multiple intravitreal injections of ganciclovir were enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of four non-infectious patients with acute anterior uveitis (AAU). Read More

Gastroenterology 2021 Apr 28. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons; New York, NY, USA. Electronic address:

J Ophthalmic Inflamm Infect 2021 May 1;11(1):13. Epub 2021 May 1.

Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.

We report a case of varicella zoster virus (VZV)-associated anterior uveitis in a patient with weight loss, arthritis and signs of inflammatory bowel disease. Her clinical course included the development of a thalamic stroke secondary to VZV cerebral vasculopathy. Following antiviral therapy, the patient's neurologic symptoms recovered and her ophthalmic findings improved. Read More

Euro Surveill 2021 Apr;26(17)

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCW) have been identified as index cases in disease outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) in hospitals.AimWe investigated whether Danish paediatric HCW were protected against selected serious VPD.MethodsWe included 90% of staff members from two paediatric departments. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 8;22(8). Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Division of Neurochemistry and Neuropathology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), 60-355 Poznań, Poland.

Vaccines work by stimulating the immune system, and their immunogenicity is key in achieving protection against specific pathogens. Questions have been raised whether in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients they could induce disease exacerbation and whether vaccines could possibly act as a trigger in the onset of MS in susceptible populations. So far, no correlation has been found between the vaccinations against influenza, hepatitis B, tetanus, human papillomavirus, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella zoster, tuberculosis, yellow fever, or typhoid fever and the risk of MS. Read More

Pediatr Rep 2021 Apr 1;13(2):162-167. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 402, Taiwan.

Herpes zoster is a relatively rare infectious disease in the pediatric population, as compared with adults, which is due to the reactivation of latent Varicella-Zoster virus. We report a 7-year-old child without any history of varicella, who first experienced skin pain and later presented skin lesions in dermatomal distribution. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with herpes zoster. Read More

Vaccines (Basel) 2021 Apr 1;9(4). Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Rheumatology Unit, Clinic for Endocrinology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology and Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

Background: The prevalence of herpes zoster (HZ) is high in patients with rheumatic diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) doubles the risk for developing HZ. However, little is known about natural humoral immunity against varicella zoster virus (VZV) in patients with SLE. Read More

Ugeskr Laeger 2021 Apr;183(16)

Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is caused by a reactivation of the varicella zoster virus (VZV). It normally involves the triad of earache, peripheral facial nerve palsy and ipsilateral rash but can present without/with minimal visible rashes. In this case report, a 53-year-old male was admitted to hospital after a week-long headache, right-sided earache and peripheral facial nerve palsy. Read More