Herpes zoster infection as an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV-seropositive subjects: a review

Liviu Feller*, Neil H. Wood, Johan Lemmer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has resulted paradoxically in the worsening of clinical symptoms of previously subclinical infections, such as herpes zoster (HZ), herpes simplex, angular cheilitis, warts, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and C, cytomegalovirus retinitis, and others, as a result of substantial reconstitution of the host's immune responses. This phenomenon is referred to as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). It may affect up to 32% of HIV-seropositive subjects within a wide range of time after the initiation of HAART, but mainly after 8-12 weeks. Mucocutaneous HZ accounts for 7%-12% of the diseases associated with HIV infection that become worse again when the subject's immunity improves from the administration of HAART. It usually occurs after 4 weeks from the initiation of HAART, and under these circumstances the clinical symptoms and natural course of mucocutaneous HZ are similar to those in HIV-seropositive subjects who do not manifest IRIS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)455-460
Number of pages6
JournalOral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology
Volume104
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2007

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