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Previous Volume 342:635-645 March 2, 2000 Number 9 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Varicella–zoster virus is an exclusively human herpesvirus that causes chickenpox (varicella), becomes latent in cranial-nerve and dorsal-root ganglia, and frequently reactivates decades later to produce shingles (zoster) and postherpetic neuralgia. In immunocompetent elderly persons or immunocompromised patients, varicella–zoster virus may produce disease of the central nervous system.

Since the last major review of varicella–zoster virus in the Journal,^1,2 advances in molecular biology have provided important new insights into the pathogenesis of infection with varicella–zoster virus. The detection of varicella–zoster virus in blood vessels and other tissues by methods based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has widened the recognized clinical . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Latency

DNA of Varicella–Zoster Virus in Human Ganglia

Cell Type That Harbors Latent Varicella–Zoster Virus

Complications in the Peripheral Nervous System

Zoster (Shingles, Radiculoneuropathy, and Ganglionitis)

Treatment of Zoster

Postherpetic Neuralgia

            Prevention

            Treatment

            Mechanisms

Complications in the Central Nervous System

Myelitis

Encephalitis and Arteritis

Large-Vessel Encephalitis (Granulomatous Arteritis)

Small-Vessel Encephalitis

Ventriculitis and Meningitis

Zoster Sine Herpete

Preherpetic Neuralgia

Other Varicella–Zoster Viral Infections without Rash

Diagnosis of Neurologic Disorders Produced by Varicella–Zoster Virus

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Departments of Neurology (D.H.G., B.K.K.-D., J.J.L., R.M., R.J.C.), Microbiology (D.H.G.), and Pathology (B.K.K.-D.), University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Gilden at the Department of Neurology, Mailstop B182, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E. 9th Ave., Denver, CO 80262, or at don.gilden@uchsc.edu.

References

Related Letters:

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Carver A., Payne R., Foley K., Dworkin R. H., Galer B. S., Rowbotham M. C., Gershon A. A., Perkin R. T., Breton G., Bricaire F., Caumes E., Gilden D. H., Kleinschmidt-DeMasters B. K.
Extract | Full Text  
N Engl J Med 2000; 343:221-223, Jul 20, 2000. Correspondence

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