Glutathione disulfide chemical structure (skeleton formula)

Varicella-zoster virus infections of the nervous system

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) central nervous system infection can have various presentations, including encephalitis, meningitis, cranial neuropathies, vasculopathy, and myelitis. The clinical manifestations of VZV infections can be divided into primary varicella zoster infection (chickenpox) and reactivated VZV infection (dermatomal shingles or disseminated herpes zoster). VZV is a neurotropic human herpesvirus, and the cause of neurologic complications has been postulated as either direct viral invasion through retrograde infection of neurons or immune-mediated mechanisms.