Varicella Zoster Meningitis in a Pregnant Woman with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Between 6000 and 7000 women in the United States infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) give birth annually. It is well known that HIV-related immunosuppression significantly increases the risk for acquiring opportunistic infections (OIs). However, there is limited information regarding the relationship of pregnancy in the setting of HIV/AIDS infection, subsequent development of OIs, and maternal and fetal outcomes. A pregnant 36-year-old woman with AIDS was diagnosed with varicella zoster meningitis. Weight-based therapy with acyclovir was initiated with clinical improvement in symptoms. Care of a pregnant HIV-infected patient with an OI poses a unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Early diagnosis and initiation of appropriate treatment may provide an opportunity to improve both maternal and fetal outcomes.

KEYWORDS

Varicella zoster virus - AIDS - human immunodeficiency virus - meningitis - pregnancy

REFERENCES

• 1 Report on the Global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Geneva; Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 1998: 1-13
• 2 Weller T H. Varicella and herpes zoster: changing concepts of the natural history, control and importance of a not-so-benign virus. Part 2.  N Engl J Med. 1983;  309 1434-1440
• 3 Shepp D H, Dandliker P S, Meyers J D. Treatment of varicella-zoster virus infection in severely immunocompromised patients: a randomized comparison of acyclovir and vidarabine.  N Engl J Med. 1986;  314 208-212
• 4 De La Blanchardiere A, Rozenberg F, Caumes E et al.. Neurological complications of varicella-zoster virus infection in adults with human immunodeficiency virus infection.  Scand J Infect Dis. 2000;  32 263-269