Congenital varicella syndrome diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction--scarring of the spinal cord, not the skin.

A term infant with congenital varicella syndrome (CVS) is reported. Monoplegia of the left arm and paraplegia were present with no evidence of dermatomal skin scarring. Following death at 12 days of age, autopsy documented severe atrophy and gliosis of the spinal cord. Testing for varicella-zoster virus by the polymerase chain reaction method on brain tissue was positive. This case extends the current understanding of the clinical and pathological features of CVS.