Ramsay Hunt syndrome with multiple cranial neuropathies in a liver transplant recipient

Authors

• Fawzi A. Babtain
• Harsha S. Bhatia
• Amer H. Assiri

Abstract

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is an infection of the head and neck caused by varicella zoster virus involving the facial nerve; less commonly, other cranial nerves might be involved. We report a case of Ramsay Hunt syndrome in an immune compromised patient, with classic facial nerve palsy and ipsilateral ear vesicles, which rapidly evolved to involve multiple cranial neuropathies, and improved dramatically with antiviral therapy and corticosteroids. Varicella zoster virus should be considered as a cause of multiple cranial neuropathies in an immune compromised patient, and abrupt treatment with acyclovir should be initiated once this diagnosis is suspected.

Article Type

Case Report

First Page

262

Last Page

264

Recommended Citation

Babtain, Fawzi A.; Bhatia, Harsha S.; and Assiri, Amer H. (2012) "Ramsay Hunt syndrome with multiple cranial neuropathies in a liver transplant recipient," Neurosciences: Vol. 17: Iss. 3, Article 14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17712/1658-3183.1959