Viral ascending radiculomyelitis with severe hypoglycorrachia.

Ascending radiculomyelitis in a 52-year-old woman was accompanied by transient marked hypoglycorrachia and polymorphonuclear pleocytosis of the CSF. Examination of the CSF later in the course of illness revealed albuminocytologic dissociation. This unusual sequence of findings was associated with serologic evidence of a recent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. In addition, the illness was associated with a nonthrombocytopenic purpuric rash. We proposed that the rash and neurologic disease were consequences of vasculitis caused by CMV infection.