J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2000 Jun;7(2):190-195.

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Complicated by Ophthalmoplegia in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Affiliations
  • 1The Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Neurology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Ophthalmology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Kwangmyung Sungae Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

There have been many reports about infections in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being more frequent than general population. Increased susceptability to infections in RA could be related to disease itself, comorbid conditions, and use of immunosuppressive drugs and steroid. Herpes zoster viral infections also have been reported to be more frequent in RA. We describe a case of 60-year-old woman with RA presented with ophthalmoplegia associated with herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Initially she complained of right orbital and periorbital pain. Six days later, she noted a cutaneous herpes zoster eruption involving the right 1st division of trigeminal nerve. Three days after developing skin eruption, she developed a right ptosis with external ophthalmoplegia and pupil dilatation resulting from the 3rd and 6th cranial nerve involvement. She was placed on intravenous acyclovir for 7days. Eight weeks after the onset of ophthalmoplegia, she recovered nearly completely.

Keyword

Rheumatoid arthritis; Infection; Herpes zoster ophthalmicus; Ophthalmoplegia

MeSH Terms

Acyclovir
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*
Cranial Nerves
Dilatation
Female
Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus*
Herpes Zoster*
Humans
Middle Aged
Ophthalmoplegia*
Orbit
Pupil
Skin
Trigeminal Nerve
Acyclovir
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