RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The appearance of skin lesions at the dermatome of the nasociliary nerve in herpes zoster involving the ophthalmic nerve (Hutchinson's sign) was associated with an increased incidence of ocular complications. OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed to revaluate the clinical usefulness of the original concept of Hutchinson's sign in herpes zoster involving the ophthalmic nerve. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with herpes zoster, involving the ophthalmic nerve, were enrolled in this study at the medical center, Daegu Catholic University from December 2004 to July 2006. Statistical analysis using chi-sqaure test in verified the relationship between the clinical parameters and the development of ocular lesions (p<0.05). RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the presence of underlying disease, severity of pain, severity of skin lesions and Hutchinson's sign were the predictive factors of the development of ocular lesions. A strong relationship formed between the Hutchinson's sign and the development of ocular lesions [Relative risk: 6.769 (Confidence interval 95%: 2.310~19.838)]. CONCLUSION: Hutchinson's sign may be a useful predictive factor in the development of ocular lesions in the herpes zoster involving the ophthalmic nerve.