Risk Factors for Aseptic Meningitis in Herpes Zoster Patients.
- Author:
Sang Hoon KIM
1
;
Seong Min CHOI
;
Byeong C KIM
;
Kang Ho CHOI
;
Tai Seung NAM
;
Joon Tae KIM
;
Seung Han LEE
;
Man Seok PARK
;
Seong J KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Herpes zoster; Herpesvirus 3; human; Meningitis; aseptic; Risk factors
- MeSH: Demography; Dermatology; Exanthema; Herpes Zoster*; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Hospitalization; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Meningitis; Meningitis, Aseptic*; Neurology; Odds Ratio; Outpatients; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors*
- From:Annals of Dermatology 2017;29(3):283-287
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. HZ-associated aseptic meningitis, a rare complication of HZ, can require hospitalization and a long treatment period. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was performed to identify potential factors associated with HZ-associated aseptic meningitis development. METHODS: We included all outpatients and patients admitted in the neurology and dermatology departments of a single tertiary center, who were diagnosed with HZ for two years. Among 818 patients, 578 patients were eligible for analysis. RESULTS: The demographics and potential risk factors were compared between the uncomplicated HZ group (n=554) and aseptic meningitis group (n=24). Among the potential factors, the dermatological distribution of skin rash and gender showed statistically significantly different between the two groups. Patients with craniocervical distribution of HZ accounted for 87.5% (n=21) of the aseptic meningitis group and 54.3% (n=301) of the uncomplicated HZ group (p=0.043). The aseptic meningitis group had more men (66.7%, n=16) than the uncomplicated HZ group (42.8%, n=237, p=0.033). Patients with craniocervical distribution had an odds ratio (OR) of 5.884 (p=0.001) for developing aseptic meningitis when compared with the other dermatome involvements. Additional logistic regression analysis resulted in a fading between gender difference (p=0.050) and craniocervical involvement having an OR of 5.667 for aseptic meningitis (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: In HZ patients, skin rash with craniocervical distribution and male gender were associated with a higher risk of aseptic meningitis.
