Herpes simplex neuropathy

KROHEL, GREGORY B. M.D.
RICHARDSON, JOHN R. M.D.
FARRELL, DONALD F. M.D.

From the Division of Neurology, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle.

Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Farrell at the Division of Neurology (RG-20), University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195. Dr. Krohel's present address is the Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208.

This study was supported in part by a USPHS clinical neurology training grant NS-05067-19.

Received for publication July 28, 1975.

Neurology 26(6):p 596-597, June 1976.

Article abstract—Atypical facial pain and permanent sensory loss in the second and third divisions of the trigeminal nerve developed in a patient who had had multiple attacks of herpes simplex neuralgia over a period of 8 years. Intravenous cytosine arabinoside failed to prevent a recurrence of the vesicular eruption, but carbamazepine produced symtomatic pain relief. This case demonstrates that herpes simplex can closely mimic herpes zoster as a cause of postherpetic neuralgia and suggests a possible etiology of atypical facial pain and/or trigeminal sensory neuropathy in some patients.