Impaired oxidative status as a potential predictor in clinical manifestations of herpes zoster

• Published in: Journal of medical virology Vol. 90; no. 10; pp. 1604 - 1610
• Main Authors: Khazan, Marjan, Hedayati, Mehdi, Robati, Reza M., Riahi, Seyed Mohammad, Nasiri, Soheila
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2018
• Subjects: Activation; Antioxidants; Biomarkers; Chronology; Glutathione; Herpes zoster; herpes zoster (HZ); Immune response; Immune response (cell-mediated); Immunity; Inflammation; Inflammatory response; Lymphocytes T; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Pathogenesis; Patients; Reactive oxygen species; Serum levels; Superoxide dismutase; total antioxidant capacity (TAC); total oxidant status (TOS); total polyphenol content (TPC); Varicella; Virology; Viruses; total oxidant status (TOS); total antioxidant capacity (TAC); herpes zoster (HZ); total polyphenol content (TPC); oxidative stress
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25204
• ISSN: 0146-6615

Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, is related to many dermatologic diseases. Increased reactive oxygen species is also associated with various decreased T‐cell immune responses. The incidence and severity of herpes zoster (HZ), which is caused by the reactivation of varicella‐zoster virus, increase with age because of declining cell‐mediated immunity. The main purpose of this study was to assess the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with HZ compared with control subjects. In this case‐control study, the serum levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and total polyphenol content (TPC) in 43 patients with HZ and 47 age‐matched controls were determined, and their biomarker patterns were compared. TAC and TPC levels were significantly lower in patients with HZ; however, TOS and oxidative stress index levels were significantly higher in comparison with the control (P < .001). In addition, a significantly strong negative correlation was found between TAC and TPC with TOS levels in patients with HZ (r = −.79, P < .001; r = −.81, P < .001, respectively). Our findings showed an oxidative stress imbalance in HZ. Whether this change correlates with HZ pathogenesis or is a consequence of the inflammatory response to HZ needs more investigation.