Ann Rehabil Med.  2012 Oct;36(5):724-728.

A Case of Herpes Zoster Peripheral Polyneuropathy Manifested by Foot Drop in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

• Seo DH
• Lee SJ
• Hyun JK
• Kim TU

Abstract

In herpes zoster infection, neurological complications may be overlooked because pain is a more prominent symptom and because peripheral polyneuropathy associated with weakness is rare. A 57-year-old male visited our hospital, complaining of pain and skin eruptions on the right flank. He was diagnosed as having herpes zoster and the symptoms were alleviated by administration of acyclovir for a week. After three weeks, the herpes zoster relapsed. He was re-admitted and diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and imatinib mesylate was prescribed for five weeks. Ten weeks after the onset of herpes zoster, bilateral foot drops and numbness of the right foot dorsum developed. Through an electrodiagnostic study, he was diagnosed as having peripheral polyneuropathy that was suspected to be caused by neural invasion by varicella zoster virus. After administration of famciclovir, not only the pain but also the neurologic symptoms improved. We herein report a case of peripheral polyneuropathy that was supposed to be related to herpes zoster.

Keyword

Polyneuropathy; Herpes zoster; Foot drop

MeSH Terms

2-Aminopurine
Acyclovir
Benzamides
Foot
Herpes Zoster
Herpesvirus 3, Human
Humans
Hypesthesia
Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive
Male
Mesylates
Middle Aged
Neurologic Manifestations
Piperazines
Polyneuropathies
Pyrimidines
Skin
Imatinib Mesylate
2-Aminopurine
Acyclovir
Benzamides
Mesylates
Piperazines
Pyrimidines

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The photographs show (A) typical skin rash and vesicles of herpes zoster confined to right T11 dermatome, and (B) weakness of bilateral ankle dorsiflexors and big toe extensors, more severe in right side.

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  Fig. 2 The graphs show that compound muscle action potentials of both common peroneal nerves recorded at extensor digitorum brevis.

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  Fig. 3 The graphs show that sensory nerve action potentials of both superficial peroneal nerves were absent.

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