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Review
. 2019 Jul 2;43(3):159-170.
doi: 10.1080/01658107.2019.1604763. eCollection 2019 Jun.

Varicella Zoster Virus in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Review of Current Medical Literature

Rochella A Ostrowski  1 , Sheela Metgud  1 , Rodney Tehrani  1 , Walter M Jay  2
Affiliations
Review

Varicella Zoster Virus in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Review of Current Medical Literature

Rochella A Ostrowski et al. Neuroophthalmology. .

Abstract

In recent years, the search for the cause of giant cell arteritis (GCA) has led investigators to look to varicella zoster virus (VZV) as the answer. In some ways, the nature of VZV infection makes it an attractive explanation for the pathology observed in GCA. However, studies to date yield a level of inconsistency that still leaves uncertainty as to whether VZV directly causes GCA, and positive findings have not been successfully reproduced.

Keywords: Giant cell arteritis; temporal artery biopsy; varicella zoster virus; vasculitis.

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