Introduction: Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) is a member of the Herpesviridae family of viruses and causes two different clinical conditions. The main objective of our study is not to diagnose GCA but instead, we wanted to assess whether there is a structural or flow change following VZV during childhood using US in temporal artery, which is the most commonly affected artery by GCA in advanced age and to review whether the patients show any clinical symptoms related with GCA.
Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a prospective single-blind study and included 30 patients diagnosed with varicella under 16 by the same pediatrician and shows infection characteristics.
Results: None of the patients included in the study showed halo signs. Moreover, none of the patients showed compression signs, occlusion, or stenosis results. The mean value for intima-media complex thickness was measured as 0.25mm (0.18 - 0.27mm) in a common superficial temporal artery.
Conclusion: Chickenpox patients did not show any ultra sonographic changes in their temporal artery and no clinical symptoms related to GCA, yet we think that the relationship between VZV infection and GCA development warrants further studies with larger series and longer follow-up periods.
Key words: Giant-cell arteritis; Varicella-Zoster Virus; Vasculitis; Ultrasonography
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