title: Beyond zoster: sensory and immune changes in zoster-affected dermatomes: a review*.
abstract: Neuroepidermal tropism of varicella-zoster virus accounts for cutaneous and nerve lesions following herpes zoster. Skin lesions heal in a few weeks and may or may not leave visible scars. Nerve lesions involve peripheral sensory fibres, sometimes causing permanent damage that results in partial denervation of the affected dermatome. The effects of the nerve injury involve the sensibility function, thus causing neuralgia, itch, allodynia, hypo- or anaesthesia, as well as the immune function that is related to neuropeptide release, thus altering immune control in the affected dermatome. The neuro-immune destabilization in the zoster-infected site paves the way for the onset of many and various immunity-related disorders along the affected dermatome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, 2nd University of Naples via Sergio Pansini, 5, I-80131 Napoli, Italy. vincenzo.ruocco@unina2.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sangiuliano
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brunetti
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruocco
mesh_terms: D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*