title: Varicella-Zoster virus-specific cell-mediated immunity in HIV-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a frequent complication of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We determined the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on reconstitution of varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (VZV-CMI) in 56 VZV- and HIV-infected children. VZV-CMI did not change over the course of >/=3 years of observation, despite a reduction in HIV load. VZV-CMI correlated with lower HIV load but not with CD4 cell percentage. The incidence of HZ was unaffected by HAART. None of 5 patients who developed HZ during the study had VZV-CMI before developing HZ. After developing HZ, only the 2 HAART-compliant patients developed VZV-CMI. Thus, VZV-specific immune reconstitution in HIV infection may require antigenic reexposure, in addition to control of HIV replication.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA. adriana.weinberg@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weinberg
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wiznia
authors.forename: Bonnie J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: LaFleur
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Myron J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral