[Analysis of immune suppression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by herpes zoster virus infection].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in cellular immune function and the safety of physical therapy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by herpes zoster (HZ) virus infection. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among 10 SLE pateints with HZ virus infection, with 30 SLE patients without HZ infection as the control group. The results of routine laboratory tests and T lymphocyte subset counts (before and during infection and after cure of infection) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: The proportion of patients with significantly increased absolute neutrophil count and white blood cell count before HZ infection, and those with decreased lymphocyte percentage and elevated C-reactive protein during infection differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05). Before HZ infection, the proportions of patients with increased CD3+ %, decreased CD16+ CD56+ %, abnormal 4/8 ratio (P<0.01) and those with increased CD8+ % and CD8+ count and decreased CD16+ CD56+ count differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.05). During HZ infection, the proportion of patients with increased CD3+ % and CD8+ % and decreased CD4+ % and 4/8 ratio count (P<0.05) and those with decreased CD16+ CD56+ % and increased CD8+ count differed significantly between the two groups (P<0.01). After cure of HZ infection, the proportion of patients with decreased CD16+ CD56+ % was significantly different between the two groups (P<0.01). The treatment time of HZ infection averaged 5∓1.3 days with a cure rate of 100% postherpetic neuralgia occurred in none of the patients after the treatment.

CONCLUSION: Patients with SLE complicated by HZ infection are in an immunosuppressive state, suggesting the need of monitoring T lymphocyte subsets in SLE treatment. The combined use of antiviral drugs and physical therapy can be safe and effective for treatment of SLE complicated by HZ infection.