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CASE REPORT |
Complete oculomotor nerve palsy with pupillary involvement is a neuro-ophthalmologic emergency because it is commonly caused by a compressive aneurysm at the junction of the posterior communicating artery and the internal carotid artery. If left untreated, this condition can be potentially fatal within days. The present report describes a 45-year-old African American woman with human immunodeficiency virus who presented with complaint of new-onset nonspecific headache, acute onset of complete oculomotor nerve palsy, and a dilated pupil of the right eye. Results of standard work-up for aneurysm and other etiologic factors were negative. Ten days after presentation, papulovesicular eruptions occurred over the V1 and V2 dermatomes, revealing herpes zoster ophthalmicus. The present case may be the first to identify a patient with complete ophthalmoplegia with pupil involvement as a pre-eruptive manifestation of herpes zoster. The literature on epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and current treatment options for this rare form of shingles are reviewed.
In the current report, we describe a woman who presented to a medical center with a headache and ptosis of the right eye and no skin lesions or rash. Physical examination and laboratory test results for aneurysm and other conditions were negative. However, 10 days after presentation, a rash consistent with herpes zoster ophthalmicus occurred. The available information on this condition—epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment options—is reviewed.
| Report of Case |
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The patient's medical history was significant for HIV infection with a recent CD4 cell count of 8. She had chronic anemia, schizophrenia, and herpes zoster, and she had Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer. She completed a review of systems and denied blurry vision, diplopia, eye pain, neck pain, fever, and paresthesia. Family, social, and surgical history were noncontributory. The patient had no known medication allergies. Her medications and dietary supplements included epoetin alfa, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim, omeprazole, olanzapine, fluconazole, and iron, multivitamins, and folic acid.
Physical examination at the bedside revealed that the patient was alert and properly oriented (ie, to person, place, and time). She was in no acute distress. Her blood pressure was 100/63 mm Hg; pulse, 80 beats per minute; respiration, 20 breaths per minute; and body temperature, 98°F.
On further examination, she had complete ptosis of the right eye (OD) with normal periorbital and facial skin appearance (Figure 1). No rash was present, and the left eye (OS) appeared normal. The patient had uncorrected near visual acuity (20/200 OD, 20/100 OS). The pupils were anisocoric and unequally reactive to light. In dim light, the pupils were 6 mm OD and 4 mm OS. In bright light, they were 5.5 mm OD and 2 mm OS. The reaction of the pupil OD was sluggish, whereas the pupil OS was brisk. There was no relative afferent pupillary reaction. Extraocular motility OD revealed absence of adduction, infraduction, and supraduction. Extraocular motility OS was full. Confrontational visual field appeared full in both eyes. Globes were equally soft by palpation. Anterior and posterior segments were normal. The irises in both eyes were normal. There were no cotton-wool spots or retinal hemorrhages.
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Meningitis was suspected because of the patient's initial complaint of headache and her immunodeficient status. Results from a computed tomography scan without contrast of head and orbits were normal. A lumbar puncture was performed, and analysis of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) revealed clear fluid, no red blood cells, no white blood cells, normal glucose level (61 mg/dL), and normal gram stain and culture. Further tests for opportunistic infections were done, but results from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of CSF for tuberculosis, cryptococcus, cytomegalovirus, and venereal disease were all negative. Blood cultures and direct antiglobulin were also normal. The complete blood cell count was nonspecific for infections, and the comprehensive metabolic profile was normal (Figure 2). However, her laboratory results revealed substantial hyponatremia.
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| Discussion |
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Epidemiology
About 99% of adults with a history of chicken pox and up to 90% of those
without have serology that is positive for varicella
zoster.2-5
Age and immunoincomptence are the main risk factors. The lifetime risk of
herpes zoster is estimated to be 10% to 20%, though patients older than 85
years have an incidence rate of
50%.2-5
Patients with immunodeficient conditions such as HIV or AIDS, cancer, or
autoimmune diseases show greater prevalence of herpes zoster than the general
population. Furthermore, patients with HIV are 15 to 25 times more likely to
have herpes
zoster.2-5
Pathogenesis
The varicella zoster virus is a double-stranded DNA virus that causes two
distinct clinical entities: primary varicella and herpes zoster. Varicella
zoster virus is transmitted via airborne and direct contact.
During primary varicella infection, the virus invades the cutaneous ends of sensory nerves and causes acute febrile exanthamous illness. It then migrates to the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal column and cranial nerve ganglia, where it becomes latent. It typically remains dormant for decades unless the immune system is compromised.6
Reactivation of the virus has been linked to patients with cell-mediated immunity. The decline of varicella antibodies occurs naturally in aging and can be induced by immunosuppressive conditions caused by illness or medication.
The reactivated virus in a sensory ganglion causes inflammation of the neuronal axons and results in shingles of the associated dermatome. Sensory nerves of the thoracic dermatomes are most commonly affected, followed by cranial nerves.
Varicella zoster infection is more severe in patients who are immunosuppressed, elderly, pregnant, or neonates. The virus can cause a wide spectrum of disorders, including typical herpes zoster, recurrent herpes zoster, chronic disseminated herpes zoster, and visceral dissemination.
Several mechanisms of ophthalmoplegia as described in the present report have been postulated:
Clinical Presentation
Herpes zoster usually evolves in three distinct stages: prodromal, acute,
and
chronic.4,5,12-15
Some patients may present with overlapping stages.
In the prodromal stage, the patient may experience flu-like symptoms, dysethesia, burning, itching, tingling, boring, photophobia, or prickly or knife-like sensations in skin area of the affected dermatome. These sensory changes are believed to be the result of nerve fiber degeneration and usually precede skin eruptions from a few hours to 1 week.
The acute stage is characterized by skin eruptions. The rash progresses from erythematous macules to clusters of papules and clear vesicles within 24 hours. It then evolves into pustules within 1 week. These pustules will rupture and crust by day 10. However, the lesions heal within 4 weeks, leaving hyper- or hypopigmented scarring.
The chronic stage is most commonly manifested by post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) after the skin manifestations have resolved. This condition occurs in 9% to 34% of all zoster patients, though it affects 50% to 75% of elderly patients with herpes zoster.16,17 It is the third most common cause of neuropathic pain after low back pain and diabetic neuropathy18 and has been described as constant deep pain, recurrent shooting pain, and allodynia.16 It typically resolves within 2 months in 50% of patients and within 1 year in 70% to 80% of patients.2
Herpes zoster ophthalmicus involves the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve (Figure 7). The ophthalmic branch is subdivided into frontal, nasosciliary, and lacrimal branches. As the nasociliary branch innervates the globe and nose, a lesion at the tip of the nose, commonly referred to as Hutchinson's sign, is a good clinical indicator of possible ocular involvement. However, one-third of patients with ocular involvement do not have Hutchinson's sign.13
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Diagnosis
Myriad clinical conditions mimic the prodromal sensations of herpes zoster
ophthalmicus: trigeminal neuralgia, maxillary sinusitis, myocardial pain, and
atypical facial
pain.6 Also,
acneiform eruptions, candidiasis, cellulitis, contact dermatitis, erysipelas,
folliculitis, insect bites, lichen striatus, varicella, and herpes simplex may
mimic the skin
lesions.23 The key
factor in the differential diagnosis of herpes zoster is that it affects a
specific dermatome.
With the recognition of the common signs and symptoms, herpes zoster can be easily recognized and accurately diagnosed. Atypical presentations and other disseminated forms require diagnostic work-up to prevent potentially life-threatening complications. Because varicella virus is labile, viral culture has a low yield. Tzanck test, direct fluorescence assay, and PCR are more capable of detecting the virus in fluid and tissues.3,24 Furthermore, direct fluorescence assay and PCR are more specific and sensitive and allow differentiation of herpes simplex from herpes zoster.
Treatment Options
The goal of therapy is to limit the severity of acute and chronic pain,
hasten the healing process, and reduce the chances of dissemination. Antiviral
therapies in the form of acyclovir, valacyclovir hydrochloride, and
famciclovir are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the
management of herpes zoster, as follows:
Antiviral therapy is substantially more effective if begun within the first 72 hours of rash onset.25-27 It induces prompt resolution of skin lesions, diminishes viral shedding, lessens lesion formation, and decreases corneal and uveal involvement. All three medications are generally safe but may require dosage adjustment for patients with renal insufficiency.25-27
The efficacy of antiviral therapy for PHN is still inconclusive. However, famciclovir and valcyclovir have proven therapeutically equal or better than acyclovir in alleviating symptoms. Generally, patients with PHN require treatment during the acute phase of herpes zoster with antivirals or tricyclic antidepressants. These medications can significantly reduce the incidence, severity, and duration of PHN. Desipramine hydrochloride and nortriptyline hydrochloride are the most commonly recommended tricyclic antidepressants for PHN.2-4,12,13,17,20,21 However, a full discussion of the medical treatment of PHN is beyond the scope of the present report.
A live attenuated herpes zoster vaccine for individuals older than 60 years has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.28 This vaccine has been shown to reduce substantially the incidence of herpes zoster by 51.3% and the occurrence of PHN by 66.5%.29,30 in addition to management of herpes zoster elsewhere in the body, specific ophthalmic care is warranted because herpes zoster ophthalmicus can affect different layers and components of the eye:17,23
-adrenergics, and carbonic
anhydrase inhibitors are the medications of choice. Laser photocoagulation is also used to prevent retinal detachment from retinal necrosis. Progressive outer retinal necrosis requires the same treatment regimen recommended for acute retinal necrosis. However, an intravitreal injection of ganciclovir sodium and laser photocoagulation may also be required to limit retinal damage.21
| Conclusion |
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The recovery prognosis from external ophthalmoplegia of the patient in the present report is good. Improvement from complete ophthalmoplegia following herpes zoster can be seen within 2 months, with complete to near resolution within 18 months.2 The patient's sudden onset of oculomotor nerve palsy with pupillary involvement 10 days before the cutaneous eruptions suggests herpes zoster as the etiologic cause in the present case with an initial sign of pupil-involving oculomotor palsy. Oculomotor nerve ophthalmoplegia is a very rare complication of herpes zoster ophthalmicus. In 16 reported cases, ophthalmoplegia developed 2 months after herpes zoster rash occurred.2
The case described in the present report may be the first to identify a complete oculomotor nerve ophthalmoplegia with pupil involvement as a pre-eruptive manifestation of herpes zoster. Primary care physicians and neurologists must be cognizant of the initial signs and symptoms of herpes zoster ophthalmicus and refer these patients to an ophthalmologist when ocular involvement is suspected.
| Acknowledgment |
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| Footnotes |
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Submitted July 20, 2007; revision received February 24, 2008; accepted March 7, 2008.
| References |
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