A 39-year-old male developed a type 1 NSTEMI requiring a drug-eluting stent three months after being treated for herpes zoster meningitis and encephalitis.
Case Report (n=1)
Herpes zoster virus infection may be temporally associated with an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome, such as type 1 NSTEMI, even in young individuals with few predisposing risk factors.
Abstract Background A type 1 non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is a rare complication of shingles infection, especially in young individuals with few predisposing risk factors. Case summary A 39-year-old male, who was successfully treated for herpes zoster meningitis and encephalitis three months prior to this hospitalization, presented to the emergency department with worsening chest pain that radiated to his back with associated shortness of breath. Based on elevated troponin and abnormalities seen on electrocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiogram, the patient was diagnosed with a type 1 NSTEMI. A left heart catheterization was performed, resulting in a drug-eluting stent to the left anterior descending ostium. He was discharged with oral aspirin 81 mg daily, oral ticagrelor 90 mg twice daily, and oral rosuvastatin 20 mg daily. Conclusions Infection with herpes zoster virus (HZV) has been temporally associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in those who are young with few predisposing risk factors. It has been postulated that HZV infection causes inflammation, subsequent hypercoagulability, vessel ischemia, and arterial remodeling. More research needs to be conducted to further understand the possible mechanisms of action of HZV infection’s effect on the heart.
Eisendrath et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Type 1 NSTEMI following shingles infection (n=1). Herpes zoster virus (HZV) infection was evaluated on Type 1 NSTEMI. A 39-year-old male developed a type 1 NSTEMI requiring a drug-eluting stent three months after being treated for herpes zoster meningitis and encephalitis.