Acute varicella infection and focal arteriopathy

Focal cerebral arteriopathy of the inflammatory type is a rare but serious complication from acute varicella infection. Within a pilot project we want to analyze in what way an acute varicella infection triggers the inflammatory biomarker profil and what effect this might have on the cerebral arteries in a small group of 20 children. We will control the biomarker profile at acute infections and 6 weeks later. In addition, an MR angiogram at 6 weeks will give us information on effects on the arteries (focal arteriopathy, increase of tortuosity).  If the study is successful, we aim to get results from a larger sample of children after varicella infections.

Arteriopathy and childhood stroke

In children from the SNPSR who suffered a childhood stroke their MR angiogram from the acute episode as well as on follow up will be analyzed concerning their tortuosity – a measure of abnormalities of vessel kinking. We hope to get insight whether tortuosity of arteries is increased as a basic abnormality in these children, or just a problem vanishing after the acute episode. In addition, we will test stiffness of arteries in children after stroke and see whether this in correlation to tortuosity abnormalities in acute episode and / or on follow up.