1982 Volume 56 Issue 4 Pages 272-277
Fifty three cases of SLE patients were studied with regard to development of herpes zoster.
Forty cases of Lymphoma patients were studied as disease control.
Corelation between the steroid administration and herpes zoster infection was examined and the causes that herpes zoster occured frequently in SLE patients were studied on clinical and laboratory findings of 53 SLE patients.
Results showed as following:
1. Herpes zoster occured in 21 cases (40%) in SLE patients and in 3 cases (7.5%) in Lymphoma patients.
2. Multiple episodes were found in 5 cases including a case who had 5 episodes in SLE patients, but were not found in Lymphoma patient.
3. Fourteen cases were infected with herpes zoster within 3 years since the onset of SLE. Only 4 cases were infected after 5 years since the onset of SLE. All of 3 cases of Lymphoma patients were infected at the end stage.
4. The average dose of the steroid administration showed that initial dose was the more and total dose for 3 years was the less in patients with herpes zoster infection than without herpes zoster infection.
5. Decrease of complement titer was found in almost of SLE patient with herpes zoster infection and with multiple episodes, but not in Lymphoma patients.
6. Leukocytopenia, increases level of BUN, CRTNN, GOT, and LDH were found in patients with herpes zoster infection. (P<0.05)
By computer analysis, we conclude that leukocytopenia or renal failure seems to be a risk factor of herpes zoster infection, which occurs frequently in SLE.
