Aseptic meningitis due to varicella-zoster virus: serum antibody levels and local synthesis of specific IgG, IgM, and IgA.

We used an indirect enzyme immunoassay to describe the evolution of serum levels and the intrathecal production of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in eight patients with a syndrome of acute aseptic meningitis (AAM) and evidence of intrathecal production of VZV-specific IgG antibodies. Four of the eight patients showed no cutaneous zoster while hospitalized. Our results suggested an etiologic relation between VZV and AAM in all cases. Furthermore, we observed some differences in the pattern of evolution of antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in relation to the presence or absence of cutaneous lesions in our patients. These differences could reflect different pathogenic mechanisms in the spread of VZV to the central nervous system and in the production of the AAM syndrome.