Severe eczema herpeticum is associated with prolonged depression of cell-mediated immunity to herpes simplex virus.
Nine patients with eczema herpeticum (EH) and 2 with atopic eczema and recurrent cold sores were investigated for cell-mediated immunity (CMI) and antibodies (Ab) to herpes simplex virus (HSV). All patients had Ab to HSV and a high lymphoproliferation response to concanavalin A and all but 3 showed lymphoproliferation to HSV antigens. These 3 patients had very severe EH and absent CMI to HSV for many months after clinical recovery despite normal Ab and concanavalin A responses. In 2 of them, depletion of CD8+ T cells by panning restored the lymphoproliferative response to HSV. Thus their absent CMI may be due to suppressor cell function rather than lack of responsive cells.
Vestey
J P
JP
Department of Dermatology, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Scotland.
Howie
S E
SE
Norval
M
M
Maingay
J P
JP
Neill
W A
WA
D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications; D007617:Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology