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Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections
Biology, Natural History, Treatment, and Prevention
- STEPHEN E. STRAUS, M.D.;
- JEFFREY M. OSTROVE, Ph.D.;
- GENEVIEVE INCHAUSPÉ, Ph.D.;
- JAMES M. FELSER, M.D.;
- ALISON FREIFELD, M.D.;
- KENNETH D. CROEN, M.D.; and
- MARK H. SAWYER, M.D.
Abstract
During the last 10 years, there have been major advances in the understanding of varicella-zoster virus and the diseases it causes. The molecular biology of the virus is being unraveled with the aid of new molecular technologies. Varicella, usually a benign manifestation of primary infection, and zoster, a result of reactivation of latent virus, can cause considerable morbidity in patients with immune impairment. Antiviral drugs, especially acyclovir, ameliorate severe infections but still have little role in the treatment of most normal patients with varicella or zoster. Varicella can be prevented when necessary by patient isolation and passive prophylaxis with varicella-zoster immune globulin. An experimental live vaccine also prevents varicella, but problems regarding its virulence for immunosuppressed patients and the durability of the protective response are still being addressed.
- acyclovir
- cerebellar dyssynergia
- chickenpox
- immune tolerance
- immunoglobulins
- immunosuppression
- neurologic manifestations
- varicella-zoster virus
- viral vaccines
- virus replication
- cutaneous dissemination
- cystitis
- encephalitis
- enterocolitis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- hepatitis
- herpes gangrenosum
- myelitis
- myocarditis
- myositis
- ocular manifestations
- ophthalmoplegia
- pancreatitis
- peripheral motor neuropathies
- pneumonitis
- post-zoster neuralgia
- scarring
- superinfection
- acyclovir
- cerebellar dyssynergia
- chickenpox
- immune tolerance
- immunoglobulins
- immunosuppression
- neurologic manifestations
- varicella-zoster virus
- viral vaccines
- virus replication
- cutaneous dissemination
- cystitis
- encephalitis
- enterocolitis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- hepatitis
- herpes gangrenosum
- myelitis
- myocarditis
- myositis
- ocular manifestations
- ophthalmoplegia
- pancreatitis
- peripheral motor neuropathies
- pneumonitis
- post-zoster neuralgia
- scarring
- superinfection
Article and Author Information
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▸An edited summary of a Combined Clinical Staff Conference held 18 February 1987 at the Amphitheater, Building 10, Bethesda, Maryland, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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▸Authors who wish to cite a section of the conference and specifically indicate its author can use this example for the form of reference:
OSTROVE JM, INCHAUSPÉ G. The biology of varicella-zoster virus, pp 221-3. In: STRAUS SE, moderator. Varicella-zoster virus infections: biology, natural history, treatment, and prevention. Ann Intern Med. 1988;108:221-7.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Wendy Schubert, Sc.M.; Clinical Center Communications, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Building 10, Room 1C255; Bethesda, MD 20892.
