ObjectivesVaricella-zoster virus (VZV) is a significant pathogen of viral central nervous system (CNS) infections. There are many studies on VZV-associated CNS infections, but there is currently a lack of large-sample comparative studies on VZV-associated CNS infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised herpes zoster (HZ) patients.
In this study, we compared the clinical characteristics and prognosis of VZV-associated CNS infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised HZ patients.MethodsThis retrospective study, conducted at a tertiary hospital specializing in dermatology in East China, compares clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis at discharge in 117 immunocompetent and 49 immunocompromised HZ patients with VZV-associated CNS infection.ResultsCompared with the immunocompetent group, the incidence of encephalitis in immunocompromised HZ patients with VZV-associated CNS infections was significantly higher (P<0.05), and the prognosis at discharge was worse (P<0.01). Blood white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), blood platelet counts (BPC), hemoglobin (Hb), total protein, prealbumin, and albumin contents decreased (all P<0.05), while adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), C-reactive protein (CRP), and β2 microglobulin levels were higher (all P<0.05).
Frontiers in Immunology published a clinical update in Infectious Disease on 02 Apr 2026.
The item focuses on Varicella-zoster virus-associated central nervous system infection in immunocompromised vs.
immunocompetent herpes zoster patients: a comparative study.
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