Recurrent herpes zoster myelitis treated with human interferon alpha: a case report

Recurrent herpes zoster myelitis is very rare. However, a case was recently observed in our hospital. A 43-year-old woman developed myelitis 2 weeks after development of shingles. Her condition was improved by methylprednisolone. Seven months later, she developed myelitis after development of shingles again. Antibody against varicella-zoster (VZV), increased in the serum, but was negative in the cerebrospinal fluid. Methylprednisolone was not sufficiently effective against this attack. The refractory sensory disturbance was improved by human interferon alpha (IFN-α). Natural killer cell activity, the helper T-cell/suppressor T-cell ratio and the K/Λ ratio of B-cells increased with clinical improvement. In this case, delayed-type hypersensitivity after VZV infection played a role in the occurrence of myelopathy and clinical improvement resulted from the immunosuppressive effects of IFN-α.