Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Attack Triggered by Herpes Zoster Infection

Emanuela Claudia Turco; Erica Curti; Valentina Maffini; Francesco Pisani; Franco Granella

doi:10.1155/2020/6151258

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Attack Triggered by Herpes Zoster Infection

Mult Scler Int. 2020 Apr 25:2020:6151258. doi: 10.1155/2020/6151258. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Emanuela Claudia Turco¹, Erica Curti², Valentina Maffini³, Francesco Pisani¹, Franco Granella^{2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Child Neuropsychiatric Unit, Maternal and Child Health Department, Parma University Hospital, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
² Unit of Neurosciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Italy.
³ Emergency and General Pediatric Unit, Maternal and Child Health Department, University Hospital of Parma, Italy.
⁴ Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Parma University Hospital, Italy.

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is a severe autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by recurrent inflammatory events primarily involving the optic nerves and spinal cord. Recently, a triggering role of infectious events in the development of NMOSD has been suggested. Varicella zoster virus is the most common viral infection involved, though the linkage with anti-aquaporin-4 antibodies is so far unknown. We report, to the best of our knowledge, the first pediatric case report about NMOSD relapse triggered by herpes zoster infection. The strict temporal relationship between VZV infection and NMO attacks seems to be more than simply due to chance; however, further reports are needed to be confirmed.