Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by Dr Bucho
Stroke Risk And Chickenpox Have A Strong Relationship. Maybe Now We Understand Why
Shingles Stroke Risk: The chickenpox virus is dormant in the nerve systems of more than 90% of the world’s population. The varicella-zoster virus, or VZV, is typically acquired during childhood leading to the occurrence of Chickenpox. A third of these patients will experience shingles as this same virus will reactivate years later leading to shingles
According to the research led by Andrew Bubak, Assistant Research Professor of Neurology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.”I am a neurovirologist, and my lab studies how VZV contributes to neurological disorders such as stroke and dementia. In our recently published research, we found that VZV reactivation triggers the formation of cellular sacs, or exosomes, carrying proteins that contribute to blood clotting and inflammation. An increase in these proteins may lead to an increased risk of stroke”
Study Overview
While the painful rash that VZV creates for shingles is well-known to the majority of people, a wide range of other consequences can also manifest even without outward signs of skin damage. Stroke, in particular ischemic stroke, which happens when the blood flow to the brain is reduced by constricting arteries or obstructed by a clot, is one of the most severe. When compared to people without the condition, those with shingles have an approximately 80% higher risk of stroke, and this risk persists for up to a year after the rash has disappeared.
People with the rash on their face had a nearly doubled risk of stroke, while people under 40 have three times of risk. Most of the underlying mechanisms for this long-term stroke risk are unknown. Some researchers have hypothesized that an artery-direct infection may be the culprit. However, several characteristics of VZV infections imply that this is not the complete picture. Chronic inflammation that spreads past the site of infection is a common feature of VZV infections and can last for weeks or months after the virus has stopped being visible and is likely latent once more.
Analysis
Exosomes carry Blood-clotting proteins
Exosomes are small vesicles, or fluid-filled sacs, made inside cells throughout the body. They’re like duffle bags that carry cargo, such as proteins and nucleic acids, from the cell to distant tissues.
Exosomes are crucial for vital biological processes including cell-to-cell communication, but they can also be important in the development of disease and are a common target for drugs.
According to the research led by Andrew Bubak, “We were interested in determining whether exosomes, which contain blood clotting-related proteins, grow in shingles patients, raising their risk of stroke. In order to compare them to exosomes obtained from healthy donors, we isolated exosomes from the blood of 13 patients during the time of the shingles outbreak”.
“We discovered that shingles patients had nine times more clotting proteins in their exosomes than healthy patients when we examined their contents.”
“Furthermore, we discovered that three months after the onset of their initial rash, shingles patients’ exosomes still contained higher quantities of these proteins”.
He added, “Meanwhile, we hope that our findings may provide a potential target for treatment development, and encourage people to get vaccinated for shingles”.
Table of Contents
What is shingles?
According To the mayo clinic Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus — the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life. Years later, the virus may reactivate as shingles.
Shingles symptoms usually affect only a small section on one side of your body. These symptoms may include:
- Pain, burning or tingling
- Sensitivity to touch
- A red rash that begins a few days after the pain
- Fluid-filled blisters that break open and crust over
- Itching
Some people also experience:
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Fatigue
Thanks for reading and Thanks for visiting Dr Bucho , Get the latest updates, Blog Posts, Food, wellness, Mental Health, news, Alerts, admissions, and latest posts on our website, and stay up to date with us and don’t forget to check our page Student forum, where we have some free tools for medical professionals and students