Successful IL-2 Therapy for Relapsing Herpes Zoster Infection in a Patient with Idiopathic CD4 + T Lymphocytopenia

Abstract

Idiopathic CD4 + T lymphocytopenia (ICL) has been defined by the center of disease control as a rare cause of immunodeficiency with a variable clinical course and an unknown aetiology. Here we describe a 65-year old patient with relapsing generalized herpes zoster infection due to ICL and a severe panlymphocytopenia. In vitro assays revealed an enhanced activation of CD8 + T cells and an increased sensitivity of activated CD4 + T cells for cell death. The clinical outcome was substantially improved after starting the patient on a subcutanous therapy with IL-2.