Korean J Crit Care Med.  2011 Nov;26(4):267-271. 10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.4.267.

A Case of Massive Pulmonary Thromboembolism Associated with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Korea.
  • 2Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Korea.
  • 3Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, School of Medicine, KyungHee University, Korea. yeehyung@gmail.com

Abstract

Ramsay Hunt syndrome associated with the Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is characterized by vesicles on the pinna, otalgia, facial nerve palsy and sensorineural hearing loss. Although significant complications from VZV infection are increasing, thrombosis associated with VZV infection is one of the rare complications in adults. The VZV itself could cause endothelial damage in the various organs. Subsequently, the thrombosis might be complicated. A previously healthy 84 year-old female patient was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome. On the 7th day of antiviral treatment, she complained of sudden breathlessness. She was hypoxemic with an elevated alveolar-arterial oxygen difference and needed to be supported by mechanical ventilation. Massive pulmonary thrombosis was documented by computerized tomography and she successfully underwent thrombolytic therapy. We report a case of massive pulmonary thromboembolism associated with VZV infection, treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Keyword

herpes zoster; pulmonary embolism; Ramsay Hunt paralysis syndrome; thrombolytic therapy

MeSH Terms

Adult
Earache
Facial Nerve
Female
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
Herpes Zoster
Herpes Zoster Oticus
Herpesvirus 3, Human
Humans
Oxygen
Paralysis
Parkinsonian Disorders
Pulmonary Embolism
Respiration, Artificial
Thrombolytic Therapy
Thrombosis
Oxygen
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