Varicella Zoster Virus in Temporal Arteries of Patients With Giant Cell Arteritis.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an immune-mediated disease of unknown etiology. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) antigen was found in all of 4 GCA-positive temporal arteries (TAs) but was not present in any of 13 normal TAs. All 4 GCA-positive TAs contained viral antigen in skip areas, mostly in the adventitia and media and least in the intima. Despite formalin fixation, VZV DNA was detected in 2 of 4 GCA-positive, VZV antigen-positive TAs. Skeletal muscle was attached to 3 of 4 TAs, and VZV antigen was found in 2 and VZV DNA in 1. VZV may cause GCA.

[1]  J. Pimentel,et al.  Biopsy-negative, varicella zoster virus (VZV)-positive giant cell arteritis, zoster, VZV encephalitis and ischemic optic neuropathy, all in one , 2014, Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

[2]  J. Haas,et al.  Varicella zoster virus DNA does not accumulate in infected human neurons. , 2014, Virology.

[3]  D. Gilden,et al.  Update on Varicella Zoster Virus Vasculopathy , 2014, Current Infectious Disease Reports.

[4]  D. Gilden,et al.  Varicella zoster virus in the temporal artery of a patient with giant cell arteritis , 2013, Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

[5]  J. Bennett,et al.  Multifocal VZV vasculopathy with temporal artery infection mimics giant cell arteritis , 2013, Neurology.

[6]  J. Bennett,et al.  VZV multifocal vasculopathy with ischemic optic neuropathy, acute retinal necrosis and temporal artery infection in the absence of zoster rash , 2013, Journal of the Neurological Sciences.

[7]  R. Cohrs,et al.  Varicella zoster virus ischemic optic neuropathy and subclinical temporal artery involvement. , 2011, Archives of neurology.

[8]  R. Cohrs,et al.  Varicella zoster virus vasculopathies: diverse clinical manifestations, laboratory features, pathogenesis, and treatment , 2009, The Lancet Neurology.

[9]  A. Peeters,et al.  Polymerase chain reaction analysis and oligoclonal antibody in the cerebrospinal fluid from 34 patients with varicella-zoster virus infection of the nervous system , 2006, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.