A Significance of High Levels of Total Serum IgE in Herpes Zoster

Cha, Sang Hee; Cho, Sang Hyun; Lee, Jehoon; Park, Chul Jong

Abstract

BACKGROUD: Herpes zoster is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus. Many factors are involved in the reactivation of viruses, but most of them are unknown, except for immunosuppression and old age. A relationship between an increased level of total serum IgE and viral infection has been observed in a few previous studies.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quantitative changes, as well as the role of the total serum IgE, in patients suffering with herpes zoster.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and laboratory data of 205 patients with herpes zoster. We evaluated the clinical findings such as the affected dermatomes, the duration of illness and the persistence of herpes zoster-associated pain. The relationships of the clinical findings and the level of total serum IgE, which was measured by competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay, were also evaluated.
RESULTS
The level of total serum IgE was elevated in 95 (46.3%) of 205 patients with herpes zoster and who did not have any medical history that would influence the level of total serum IgE. The amount of elevation of the total serum IgE was higher in the younger patient group than that in the older patient group. However, there were no statistically significant relationships between the level of total serum IgE and the clinical features.
CONCLUSION
The level of total serum IgE in patients with herpes zoster was increased to more than the normal level. This may contribute to an overt defect of the cellular immune system in patients with herpes zoster.