Immunological criteria for predicting post-herpetic neuralgia

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess predictive value of blood levels of the key immune mediators in developing of post-herpetic neuralgias and efficacy of immunocorrective drugs in patients with shingles, who had different clinical and laboratory features. Materials and methods . Blood levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interferon-α and interferon-g were measured with the use of ELISA (test-systems made by Protein Contour Company Ltd., Sankt-Petersburg) in 122 patients with shingles. Results. We revealed higher levels of interferon-a and interferon-g in varicella-zoster virus DNA-negative patients compared with patients with detectable viral DNA in blood. Serum levels of interleukin-6 and interferon- ƴ on admission to a hospital in patients, who developed post-herpetic neuralgias, wereless higher, than in patients with uncomplicated course of disease. Discussion. Low levels of IL-6, INF-ƴ, and CD-8 in patients with herpes zoster characterize a weak immune response, long-term viremia, and the formation of PHN. Conclusions. Positive DNA of varicella-zoster virus by polymerase chain reaction of the blood on the 3 rd –4 th week of treatment, insufficient levels of interleukin-6 and interferon-ƴ (less than 2 times upper limit of norm) may be considered as indications for the immunocorrection.