CHRONIC VARICELLA-ZOSTER-VIRUS ENCEPHALITIS IN AN ELDERLY PATIENT

A 67-year-old woman presented with acute confusional episodes with a b ackground of progressive, mental deterioration and seizures. Antibodie s to varicella-zoster-virus were found in the cerebrospinal fluid. Bra in biopsy was performed 17 months following the onset of illness and t he histopathological examination of brain tissue showed selective neur onal injury and reactive gliosis. This case suggests that varicella-zo ster-virus is a possible causative agent of chronic encephalitis in im munocompetent patients and stresses the importance of therapy with acy clovir.