Characterization of Virus-specific Immune Response During Varicella Zoster Virus Encephalitis in a Young Adult

Nicole L Sullivan; Christiane S Eberhardt; Andreas Wieland; Rama S Akondy; Jumi Yi; Anita K McElroy; Rafi Ahmed

doi:10.1093/cid/ciy984

Characterization of Virus-specific Immune Response During Varicella Zoster Virus Encephalitis in a Young Adult

Clin Infect Dis. 2019 Jul 2;69(2):348-351. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciy984.

Authors

Nicole L Sullivan¹, Christiane S Eberhardt^{1

2}, Andreas Wieland¹, Rama S Akondy¹, Jumi Yi³, Anita K McElroy³, Rafi Ahmed¹

Affiliations

¹ Emory Vaccine Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
² Department of Pediatrics and Pathology-Immunology, Center for Vaccinology and Neonatal Immunology, University Hospitals of Geneva and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia.

Abstract

An immunocompetent adult received corticosteroids for chest pain, which later was clinically found to be herpes zoster (HZ). She developed severe disease and rapid viral dissemination that elicited an exceptionally strong varicella zoster virus-specific B-cell and CD8 T-cell response. Clinicians should consider atypical HZ presentation prior to corticosteroid administration.

Keywords: CD8 T cells; herpes zoster; plasmablasts; varicella zoster virus.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adaptive Immunity*
B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster / immunology*
Female
Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
Humans
Young Adult

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

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