Antibodies to varicella zoster virus in the cerebrospinal fluid of neonates with seizures
- Kirsi Mustonena,b,
- Pia Mustakangasb,
- Marika Smedsb,
- Laura Mannonenb,
- Lasse Uotilac,
- Antti Vaherib,
- Marjaleena Koskiniemib
- aDepartment of Neuropediatrics , North Karelia Central Hospital, Ioensu, Finland, bHaartman Institute, Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, cDepartment of Clinical Chemistry, University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Dr Kirsi Mustonen, Department of Neuropediatrics, North Karelia Central Hospital, 80210 Joensuu, Finland.
- Accepted 31 July 1997
Abstract
Four neonates with convulsions had IgG antibodies in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to varicella zoster virus (VZV). These antibodies were found in the sera of two of these patients after the age of 6 months. Antibodies to 16 different microbes were studied from the serum and CSF of 201 neonates with neurological problems. The presence of DNA specific to HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV in the CSF was also investigated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antibodies to VZV were detected in the CSF of four neonates. Antibody indices suggested production of VZV specific antibodies in the central nervous system. These findings suggest that intrathecal production of antibodies to VZV can appear in neonates with neurological problems, which suggests that intrauterine VZV infection can be acquired without cutaneous symptoms in the mother.
