Herpes zoster as an immune restoration disease in AIDS patients during therapy including protease inhibitors.
A prospective study to evaluate the incidence of herpes zoster (HZ) as an immune restoration disease in patients with AIDS during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was conducted in a series of 115 patients diagnosed with AIDS initiated on HAART between 1 January 2000 and 31 July 2001. Of these, a single dermatomal HZ episode occurred in 14 (12%) patients within one and 15 months of HAART (median eight months). The HZ patients were similar to the non-HZ patients in age, sex, and HIV transmission risk factor, but had a more advanced disease. Compared with the baseline values, the viral loads significantly (P<0.01) decreased, while the mean CD4+ T-cell counts increased by almost four-fold (P<0.01) in both groups at the time of the HZ episode (or equivalent in non-HZ), but remained below 400/mL in the HZ patients. HZ during HAART is an immunopathological consequence of the improvement of the host immuneresponse, correlating with the beginning of immune restoration.
Dunić
Ivana
I
Institute of Dermatovenereology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade. iva001@eunet.yu
Djurković-Djaković
Olgica
O
Vesić
Sonja
S
Zerjav
Sonja
S
Jevtović
Djordje
D
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015497:HIV-1; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors