Risk Factors for Aseptic Meningitis in Herpes Zoster Patients

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection. HZ-associated aseptic meningitis, a rare complication of HZ, can require hospitalization and a long treatment period.

Objective: A retrospective study was performed to identify potential factors associated with HZ-associated aseptic meningitis development.

Methods: We included all outpatients and patients admitted in the neurology and dermatology departments of a single tertiary center, who were diagnosed with HZ for two years. Among 818 patients, 578 patients were eligible for analysis.

Results: The demographics and potential risk factors were compared between the uncomplicated HZ group (n=554) and aseptic meningitis group (n=24). Among the potential factors, the dermatological distribution of skin rash and gender showed statistically significantly different between the two groups. Patients with craniocervical distribution of HZ accounted for 87.5% (n=21) of the aseptic meningitis group and 54.3% (n=301) of the uncomplicated HZ group (=0.043). The aseptic meningitis group had more men (66.7%, n=16) than the uncomplicated HZ group (42.8%, n=237, =0.033). Patients with craniocervical distribution had an odds ratio (OR) of 5.884 (=0.001) for developing aseptic meningitis when compared with the other dermatome involvements. Additional logistic regression analysis resulted in a fading between gender difference (=0.050) and craniocervical involvement having an OR of 5.667 for aseptic meningitis (=0.006).

Conclusion: In HZ patients, skin rash with craniocervical distribution and male gender were associated with a higher risk of aseptic meningitis.