Hemorrhagic Stroke Due to Varicella Zoster Virus Vasculopathy

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vasculopathy is a granulomatous vasculitis that has a wide variety of clinical presentations. It is most common in patients with HIV not on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) with low cluster of differentiation (CD)4 cell counts. This disease affects the central nervous system and can cause small intracranial bleeds. Our patient presented with stroke-like symptoms in the setting of recent VZV reactivation in the ophthalmic distribution with HIV on ART. Her MRI scan showed a small punctate bleed and the CSF workup was consistent with VZV vasculitis. She was treated with 14 days of acyclovir and five days of high-dose steroids with clinical improvement to baseline.