Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology (Jan 2020)

Zoster brachial plexopathy as a presenting manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection

  • Rajesh Verma,
  • Soumik Sarkar,
  • Chetan Shettigar

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/aian.aian_158_19
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 6
pp. 804 – 807

Abstract

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Brachial plexopathy is an uncommon neurologic complication of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. VZV is not an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining illness, but human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a risk factor for atypical and severe complications of VZV reactivation. Here, we present a 70-year-old male, who presented with left upper-limb weakness, preceded by painful dermatomal vesicular eruption, and was diagnosed to have zoster brachial plexopathy. This severe and atypical manifestation of VZV prompted HIV infection testing, leading to a new diagnosis of HIV infection.

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