Varicella Zoster Virus in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Review of Current Medical Literature

ABSTRACT

In recent years, the search for the cause of giant cell arteritis (GCA) has led investigators to look to varicella zoster virus (VZV) as the answer. In some ways, the nature of VZV infection makes it an attractive explanation for the pathology observed in GCA. However, studies to date yield a level of inconsistency that still leaves uncertainty as to whether VZV directly causes GCA, and positive findings have not been successfully reproduced.

KEYWORDS:

• Giant cell arteritis
• vasculitis
• varicella zoster virus
• temporal artery biopsy

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.