Varicella zoster ?? Must read study

[missmylefteye]

My brother thinks i may have varicella zoster which causes chicken pox & shingles. this study haa found results that may indicate that it can also cause GCA, & trigeminal neuralgia. two problems i appear to have.

medscape.com/viewarticle/84...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

This has been discussed before on one of the forums.

The study doesn't prove it CAUSES GCA, just that it is often found in biopsies - that isn't the same thing. It shows association or correlation - but correlation is not causation. Many other studies haven't shown it - and there is a lot of evidence that if someone is convinced of their hypothesis that they will only see the answers that fit! Not saying it is the case here - but it is just one of a load of studies showing different things. And one of the "normal" patients in the study had the dormant virus in their slides.

I know there is someone on one of the forums who has been on an antiviral alongside their pred and has been doing well - but she might have anyway. But I suppose it might be worth asking your doctor if they would prescribe an antiviral as well - they are cheap enough I think.

[missmylefteye in reply to PMRpro]

I see i didnt send the article correctly..im stuck using this little tablet right now, seems like nothing works. funny thing about my biopsy, i got it done at univ of CO,anshutz at the eye institute. right next door in neurology there is a research team specifically looking at gca and varicella. However, we checkec my report & they did not test me for varicella zoster....

If anyone interestec in looking at the papers: maria nagel heads it at uc med, aurora (anshutz), was don gliden (passed away). quote my bro sent from one of the papers,

'In patients with clinically suspected gca, a prevalence of vzv in their temporal arteries is similar independant of whether biopsy results are negative or positive pathology. antiviral treatment may confer add. benefit to patients with biopsy-negative gca treated with corticosteroids, altho,the optimal antiviral remains tobe determined.'

Really intriguing to me. Maybethis will help someone out there. long story, but i did have a valid script for Acyclovir, so filled it today & started taking it. IV supposed to be much better though.