Ann Dermatol.  2017 Jun;29(3):283-287. 10.5021/ad.2017.29.3.283.

Risk Factors for Aseptic Meningitis in Herpes Zoster Patients

• Kim SH
• Choi SM
• Kim BC
• Choi KH
• Nam TS
• Kim JT
• Lee SH
• Park MS
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2378526
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2017.29.3.283

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.

Keyword

Herpes zoster; Herpesvirus 3; human; Meningitis; aseptic; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Demography
Dermatology
Exanthema
Herpes Zoster*
Herpesvirus 3, Human
Hospitalization
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Meningitis
Meningitis, Aseptic*
Neurology
Odds Ratio
Outpatients
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors*

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