Paralysis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Paralysis, including details on treatment, diagnosis, facial paralysis, sleep paralysis.

Recurrent hemiplegia associated with cerebral vasculopathy following third trimester maternal herpes zoster infection.

West SL, Newton RW, Baildam EM, Turner AJ, Arkwright PD

Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK. Siobhan.wykes@doctors.org.uk

The chickenpox virus (varicella zoster virus; VZV) is known to cause large and small vessel central nervous system vasculopathies that may be associated with strokes in both adults and children. We present the case of a female aged 2 years 6 months who developed a chronic progressive small-vessel vasculopathy with radiological features of moyamoya disease as a manifestation of congenital varicella syndrome. Clinically, the condition was characterized by recurrent ischaemic strokes, which were brought under control using intravenous acyclovir. The case is unique in that it is the first report of congenital varicella syndrome to occur after a maternal herpes zoster infection. Furthermore, it is the first case of symptomatic VZV infection in a child to occur after a maternal infection occurring in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Published 19 November 2006 in Dev Med Child Neurol, 48(12): 991-3.
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