title: Severe eczema herpeticum is associated with prolonged depression of cell-mediated immunity to herpes simplex virus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Scotland.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vestey
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Howie
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norval
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maingay
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Neill
mesh_terms: 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