HERPES-ZOSTER MYELITIS OCCURRING DURING TREATMENT FOR SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

A woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with a teste r eruption, Transverse myelitis developed at the site of the dermatoma l distribution of the rash, SLE and varicella tester virus (VZV) can b oth cause myelitis, and are difficult to differentiate, The topographi c association between the cutaneous and the neurological involvement s uggesting VZV myelitis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR ) for VZV in the cerebrospinal fluid. This case illustrates the potent ial role of the selective amplification of VZV DNA in cerebrospinal fl uid to diagnose central neurological complications associated with VZV . The value of magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord in the ev aluation of patients with myelitis is emphasized.