First case report of pulmonary embolism with Zoster Sine Herpete

Syeda Sahra; Abdullah Jahangir; Mishelle Centeno Gavica; Neville Mobarakai; Ahmad Jahangir

doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101462

First case report of pulmonary embolism with Zoster Sine Herpete

Respir Med Case Rep. 2021 Jun 24:33:101462. doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101462. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Syeda Sahra¹, Abdullah Jahangir¹, Mishelle Centeno Gavica², Neville Mobarakai¹, Ahmad Jahangir³

Affiliations

¹ Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY, 10305, USA.
² Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York, USA.
³ King Edward Medical University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.

Abstract

Background: Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) infection is known to cause coagulation abnormalities leading to pulmonary embolism and ischemic strokes. The incidence of vascular and thrombotic complications with Zoster Sine Herpete has been reported very infrequently in the medical literature.

Case presentation: A 32-year-old man with no significant past medical history presented to Emergency Room with right-sided facial weakness and headache. We saw no rash on physical examination. A sub-segmental pulmonary embolus was found on C.T. angiography of the chest. VZV was detected on Lumbar Puncture studies. The patient responded well to anti-viral treatment and was discharged home without any complications.

Conclusion: The suspicion of thrombo-embolic complications should be high with Zoster Sine Herpete. Screening for coagulopathies and timely initiation of anticoagulation should be carried out in appropriate clinical settings.

Keywords: Pulmonary embolism; VZV; Zoster sine herpete.

Publication types

Case Reports