Varicella zoster meningitis preceeded by thrombophlebitis in a patient with Hodgkin's disease

Varicella tester (V-Z) infections are common among patients with hematologi cal malignancies, particularly Hodgkin's disease (HD), The common denominat or in both HD and V-Z infections is immunosuppression. Most of V-Z infectio ns occur in patients with HD during the remission period, who have mixed ce llularity sub-type, with stage III disease and who have received combined c hemo-radiation therapy. Involvement of the central nervous system usually m anifests as post-herpetic neuralgia or encephalitis. Angiitis has also been found in association with V-Z infections. The authors describe a case of H D who developed V-Z meningitis preceeded by superficial thrombophlebitis of upper extremities during the period of active chemotherapy.