Headaches due to giant cell arteritis following herpes zoster ophthalmicus in an elderly patient

Cephalalgia. 2010 Feb;30(2):239-41. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01880.x.

Abstract

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) are two diseases more commonly seen in the elderly population. Each has potentially serious and preventable visual complications by differing mechanisms. Treatments for the two diseases differ. Antiviral medications are used in HZO and high-dose corticosteroids in GCA. These two entities could potentially coexist in the same patient, leading to a complicated diagnostic scenario where a potentially treatable disease could be overlooked. Here, we report a patient who was suffering from PHN following zoster ophthalmicus who developed GCA within a time frame suggesting a potential pathogenic association with the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV). This association could be either direct with viral vessel infiltration leading to the arteritis or by an indirect dysimmune route. A pathophysiological association with VZV leading to the development of GCA is proposed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / complications*
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / physiopathology
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / virology*
  • Headache / etiology*
  • Headache / physiopathology
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / complications*
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / drug therapy
  • Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neuralgia, Postherpetic / etiology
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Temporal Arteries / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Prednisone