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Can COVID-19 Increase the Risk of Herpes Zoster? A Narrative Review.
Diez-Domingo, Javier; Parikh, Raunak; Bhavsar, Amit B; Cisneros, Elisa; McCormick, Natalia; Lecrenier, Nicolas.
  • Diez-Domingo J; FISABIO-Public Health, Valencia, Spain.
  • Parikh R; GSK, Wavre, Belgium. raunak.p.parikh@gsk.com.
  • Bhavsar AB; GSK, Wavre, Belgium.
  • Cisneros E; GSK, Madrid, Spain.
  • McCormick N; GSK, Madrid, Spain.
  • Lecrenier N; GSK, Rixensart, Belgium.
Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) ; 11(4): 1119-1126, 2021 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1230303
ABSTRACT
Herpes zoster (HZ) is associated with substantial morbidity. It is caused by reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) following decline in cell-mediated immunity, which is commonly age-related, but also occurs in individuals with immunosuppressive diseases and/or treatment. Since coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, has been associated with T cell immune dysfunction and there have been reports of HZ in COVID-19 patients, we have performed a review of available literature on whether COVID-19 could trigger HZ. We identified 27 cases of HZ following COVID-19, which most frequently occurred within 1-2 weeks of COVID-19, and the majority of cases had typical presentation. Atypical presentations of HZ were noted especially in patients with lymphopenia. It has been hypothesized that VZV reactivation occurs as a consequence of T cell dysfunction (including lymphopenia and lymphocyte exhaustion) in COVID-19 patients. Based on current evidence, which is limited to case reports and case series, it is not possible to determine whether COVID-19 increases the risk of HZ. Practitioners should be aware of the possible increased risk of HZ during the pandemic period and consider timely therapeutic and preventive measures against it.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study / Reviews Language: English Journal: Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13555-021-00549-1

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Prognostic study / Reviews Language: English Journal: Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: S13555-021-00549-1