Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome and Varicella Zoster Virus

In the previous pilot study, reactivation of VZV was confirmed in 63.6% of the patients as having RCVS by cell mediated immune response (CMI) test and 18.2% by Saliva PCR. None of patients who were simply stressed showed reactivation of VZV. Considering about 20% had false negative results in angiographic findings of RCVS, we set the effect size as 0.63 in group of subjects and 0.12 in group of controls. Using alpha values of 0.05 and beta values of 0.2, we calculated the target number of the study. If the ratio of cases to controls is 1:2, 9 case-patients and 18 control-patients were needed and if the ratio is 1:3, 8 case-patients and 24 control-patients were needed. We expect to enroll 10 case-patients and 20 to 30 control-patients within two years, considering the drop rate of 10~20%.

Baseline clinical information regarding age, sex, smoking history and medical comorbidities including hypertension (treated, systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg at discharge), diabetes (treated, fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/d), hyperlipidemia (treated, total cholesterol level ≥200 mg/dl or low‐density lipoprotein level ≥140 mg/dl) and coronary artery disease will be collected on admission. Laboratory tests, including complete blood count, blood chemistry, c-reactive protein and erythrocyte sediment rate wil be performed. Images of brain MRI, MR angiography, CT angiography or digital substraction angiography will be gathered if present.

Tests for VZV specific antibody responses and T-cell mediated immune response will be performed by VZV specific ELISA and IFN-γ ELISPOT, respectively. Result for T cell responses will be shown as spot number per 10^6 PBMCs. On the day of blood sample collection, plasma will be isolated and freezed (-80℃). Peripheral mononuclear cells will be separated from the remaining blood samples and keep freezed (-190℃). Melt the frozen peripheral mononuclear cells and inoculate them on a plate (T-Track human IFN-γ, Lophius) with anti-human IFN-γ antibody and inoculate VZV lysate (Microbix) 50 ug/mL on them. After incubating 24 hours, the staining will be performed and the spot will be read in a automated ELISPOT reader (ELR07 reader system, Autoimmune Diagnostika GmbH).

For statistical analysis, patients with thunderclap headache will divided into two groups according to the presence of RCVS. Among them, the rate of infection with varicella zoster virus will be compared and analyzed. Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney test, Pearson correlation will be performed. Also, logistic regression analysis will be used, and covariates will be adjusted if needed. Sensitivity and specificity of tests for reactivation of VZV and RCVS will be analyzed too.