Cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster antigen in acute herpes zoster (shingles)

摘要

Cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster antigen was assessed by lymphocyte transformation in fourteen patients with acute herpes zoster and in a group of twelve healthy controls. There was a significant dimunition in cell-mediated immunity to this antigen in the patient group when compared to the controls but no definite difference was observed in the responses to phytohaemagglutinin and PPD measured at the same time. It was suggested that this lack of cell-mediated immunity contributes to the evolution of the disease.