Horner's syndrome and contralateral abducens nerve palsy associated with zoster meningitis

Korean J Ophthalmol. 2013 Dec;27(6):474-7. doi: 10.3341/kjo.2013.27.6.474. Epub 2013 Nov 15.

Abstract

A 55-year-old woman presented with diplopia following painful skin eruptions on the right upper extremity. On presentation, she was found to have 35 prism diopters of esotropia and an abduction limitation in the left eye. Two weeks later, she developed blepharoptosis and anisocoria with a smaller pupil in the right eye, which increased in the darkness. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed pleocytosis and a positive result for immunoglobulin G antibody to varicella zoster virus. She was diagnosed to have zoster meningitis with Horner's syndrome and contralateral abducens nerve palsy. After intravenous antiviral and steroid treatments, the vesicular eruptions and abducens nerve palsy improved. Horner's syndrome and diplopia resolved after six months. Here we present the first report of Horner's syndrome and contralateral abducens nerve palsy associated with zoster meningitis.

Keywords: Abducens nerve palsy; Horner syndrome; Zoster meningitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abducens Nerve Diseases / diagnosis
  • Abducens Nerve Diseases / etiology*
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electromyography
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Herpes Zoster / complications*
  • Herpes Zoster / diagnosis
  • Herpes Zoster / virology
  • Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
  • Horner Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Horner Syndrome / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Meningitis / complications*
  • Meningitis / diagnosis
  • Meningitis / virology
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral