ABSTRACT
Objective To study T lymphocyte subsets levels in acute zoster patients and investigate its relation to the zoster associated pain.MethodsAccording to the visual analogue scales(VAS) in the acuter phase, 60 patients with herpes zoster were divided into two groups: group A (VAS≤6) and group B (VAS＞6). According to the follow-up results, patients were divided into another two groups: group C (PHN not developed) and group D (PHN developed). 25 healthy volunteers with a similar age and gender range as the patients were recruited as control group. T lymphocyte subsets were detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). ResultsThere was no significant difference in gender and age between groups (P＞0.05). T lymphocyte subsets were significantly decreased in four groups compared with the control group (P＜0.05), and the CD4 +subsets in group B were significantly decreased compared with group A (P＜0.05). The CD4 +/CD8 + ratios were significantly higher in group A and C than in control group, higher in group A than B and higher in group C than in group D (P＜0.05). The visual analogue scales(VAS) in group D were significantly higher than in group C (P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Cellular immunity function is decreased with the lower percent of the T lymphocytes subsets in the elderly patients with acute herpes zoster, especially in severe patients. The CD4 +/CD8 + ratios and the visual analogue scales may be associated with the the risk of post herpetic neuralgia.