Mendelian randomization analysis suggests no causal effect of herpes zoster virus on stroke

Herpes zoster (HZ), also known as shingles, is a viral disease caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in latently infected sensory ganglia. Since the 1970s, various reports have linked VZV-induced vasculopathy and stroke syndrome with HZ attacks. A retrospective cohort study, which is the largest of its kind, has confirmed that HZ is an independent risk factor for myocardial infarction and transient ischemic attack in UK adults over 18  years, up to 24 years after the acute episode.
Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences - Category: Neurology Authors: Source Type: research