Purpose

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) belongs to the human neurotropic alpha-herpes virus group. VZV reactivation can lead to neurological complications, including transverse myelitis. However, transverse myelitis caused by VZV reactivation is rare in immunocompetent patients. A case of transverse myelitis caused by VZV in an immunocompromised patient is presented in this paper.

Case description

A 64-year-old female patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic with complaints of pain, numbness and loss of strength in her right arm, and decreased sensation of warmth, after suffering from zona zoster infection two weeks before. At that time the patient had shingles in the area covering the C4-T1 dermatomes on her right side and was treated with acyclovir.

Comment

Consequently, patients presenting with similar symptoms after shingles should undergo appropriate imaging and tests, and treatment should be given for shingles-related transverse myelitis.