Virological course of herpes zoster in otherwise normal hosts

Duration of acute herpetic pain (AHP) in 1431 patients for whom treatment was begun within 14 days after the onset of herpes zoster (HZ) was analyzed with respect to age, involved region, and severity of skin lesions. All patients were treated with repeated sympathetic nerve blocks until their pain was almost nil. Severity of the skin lesions at the worst phase was defined as mild when they covered less than one-quarter of the primary dermatome, as severe when they covered more than three-quarters of the primary dermatome, and moderate if they were between mild and severe. Without taking into account the severity of skin lesions, the duration of AHP for those aged 60 years or over and for those with trigeminal involvement was significantly longer than for patients aged under 40 years (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001) and for patients with thoracic (P < 0.001) and lumbosacral (P < 0.01) involvement, respectively. However, duration of AHP was significantly longer with increase in the severity of skin lesions in all age groups (the mild group versus the moderate group, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001; the moderate group versus the severe group, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). The mean duration of AHP for patients aged 60 years or over with mild skin lesions ranged from 17.4 to 22.9 days, while that for patients aged 30-59 years with severe skin lesions ranged from 37.2 to 50.1 days. In addition, duration of AHP was significantly longer with increase in the severity of skin lesions in all regions (the mild group versus the moderate group, P < 0.01 and P < 0.001; the moderate group versus the severe group, P < 0.05 and P < 0.001). The mean duration of AHP for those with trigeminal involvement with mild skin lesions was 19.5 days, while the range was from 51.3 to 55.0 days for patients with severe skin lesions involving regions other than the trigeminal area. The frequency of severe skin lesions was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in patients aged 60 years or over and in those with trigeminal involvement. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that the most important factors influencing the duration of AHP were the severity of skin lesions of HZ at the worst phase (r = 0.412), age (r = 0.277) and the involved region (r = -0.101). Thus, AHP in the elderly and in cases of trigeminal involvement is longer because of higher frequencies of severe HZ in the elderly and in trigeminal involvement rather than "being aged' and "trigeminal involvement' itself. We propose that one needs to analyze the results of treatment of AHP with respect to the severity of skin lesions at the worst phase.

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Severity of skin lesions of herpes zoster at the worst phase rather than age and involved region most influences the duration of acute herpetic pain

Higa

Mori

Hirata

et al. 1997

Pain

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Ophthalmic herpes Zoster

Marsh¹,

Cooper²

1993

Eye

104

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London SUMMARYA current review of ophthalmic zoster is presented including its virology, immunology, epidemiology and pathogenesis. We give our findings in 1356 patients referred to the Zoster Clinic at Moorfields Ey e Hospital, London. The treatment of the disease and its ocular com plications is discussed.Ophthalmic herpes zoster is a disease varying in severity from devastating, threatening life and sight, to so mild that it may pass unnoticed. The ophthalmic division of the fifth cranial nerve is affected in 7-17.5% of herpes zoster patients. 1-5 Ocular involvement complicates approxi mately 50% of these cases and very rarely cases of maxil lary herpes zoster,l affecting many of the tissues of the globe and orbit by highly varied types of lesions.

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Aseptic Meningitis Due to Varicella-Zoster Virus: Serum Antibody Levels and Local Synthesis of Specific IgG, IgM, and IgA

Echevarría¹,

Martinez‐Martín²,

Tellez³

et al. 1987

Journal of Infectious Diseases

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We used an indirect enzyme immunoassay to describe the evolution of serum levels and the intrathecal production of IgG, IgA, and IgM antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in eight patients with a syndrome of acute aseptic meningitis (AAM) and evidence of intrathecal production of VZV-specific IgG antibodies. Four of the eight patients showed no cutaneous zoster while hospitalized. Our results suggested an etiologic relation between VZV and AAM in all cases. Furthermore, we observed some differences in the pattern of evolution of antibodies in serum and cerebrospinal fluid in relation to the presence or absence of cutaneous lesions in our patients. These differences could reflect different pathogenic mechanisms in the spread of VZV to the central nervous system and in the production of the AAM syndrome.

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Virological course of herpes zoster in otherwise normal hosts

Cited by 3 publications

References 18 publications

Severity of skin lesions of herpes zoster at the worst phase rather than age and involved region most influences the duration of acute herpetic pain

Severity of skin lesions of herpes zoster at the worst phase rather than age and involved region most influences the duration of acute herpetic pain

Ophthalmic herpes Zoster

Aseptic Meningitis Due to Varicella-Zoster Virus: Serum Antibody Levels and Local Synthesis of Specific IgG, IgM, and IgA

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