title: Herpes zoster: a possible early clinical sign for development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in high-risk individuals.
abstract: Zoster is uncommon before the age of 50 years in immunologically normal individuals, but it occurs with increased frequency in people who are immunosuppressed. A retrospective review of 300 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, revealed that 8% had prior zoster, a rate that is sevenfold greater than historic controls of the same age. We prospectively examined forty-eight patients, with no known immunodeficiency or signs of AIDS or AIDS related complex (ARC), who presented with zoster localized to the thoracic region. Forty-one patients had known risk factors for AIDS and thirty-five had antibody to the AIDS-associated virus (AAV) at the time of presentation. One seropositive subject had no known risk factors. Absolute lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte OKT4/OKT8 ratios, and lymphocyte mitogen responses were all depressed in subjects with antibody to AAV when compared with seronegative individuals. Seven of thirty-three AAV antibody-positive subjects, who could be followed longitudinally, developed AIDS from 1 to 28 months (mean = 13) after zoster. One antibody-negative subject seroconverted to become AAV seropositive 16 months after zoster and developed Kaposi's sarcoma 1 month later. These eight subjects had persistently low lymphocyte OKT4/OKT8 ratios and elevated beta-2 microglobulin. In patients at risk for AIDS, the occurrence of zoster may be one sign that heralds the marked depression of cellular immunity associated with AIDS or ARC.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000032:analysis; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin