Herpes zoster in patients with HIV/AIDS. Epidemiological, clinical and treatment features

Abstract

Introduction. Herpes Zoster represents the phenotype, conditioned by the reactivation of the Varicella zoster virus from its latent phase. It manifests itself as viral ganglioneuritis with damage to the intervertebral ganglia, ganglia of the cranial nerves, skin, posterior and anterior horns of the gray matter. Herpes zoster is more common and more severe in HIV-infected patients because cellular immunity is reduced. Aim of study. Assessment of the clinical features, epidemiology and treatment of Herpes Zoster in people with diagnosed HIV/AIDS, hospitalized in the Dermatovenerology and Communicable Diseases Hospital, in the Republic of Moldova, during the 2018-2023 period. Methods and materials. Data from the observation sheets of 143 patients, with diagnosed HIV/AIDS, hospitalized in the Dermatovenerology and Communicable Diseases Hospital in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, were investigated according to the National Clinical Protocol. The following aspects were analyzed: signs of Herpes Zoster in patients with HIV/AIDS which includes the presence of vesicular eruptions in the intercostal region, in the cervical region, in the back region or post-zoster neuralgia. The data in the study was collected using laboratory examinations and clinical-anamnestic data as investigative methods. Results. Among the investigated batch of patients, 50.3% (72) were men, 49.7% (71) - women, the average age being 43 years and 2 months. Post-zoster neuralgia was diagnosed in (107) 73.4% of the studied batch. Of those hospitalized with Herpes Zoster 26.6% (38) were in the active form, of which 57.9% (22) manifested vesicular eruptions in the intercostal region, 23.7% (9) manifested rashes in the back region and 18.4% (7) manifested rashes in the cervical region. The diagnosis of HIV was based on the following laboratory tests: anti-HIV antibodies, HIV DNA test and viral culture. More informative is the HIV DNA test (PCR). The diagnosis of Herpes Zoster is based on laboratory tests: VZV DNA test (PCR) and VZV viral culture. Conclusion. HIV/AIDS remains a major public health issue worldwide. The evolution of HIV infection is highly variable, thus it has a large number of potential complications. One such complication which is investigated in this study is Herpes Zoster. Following the study of the characteristics associated with Herpes Zoster in patients with HIV/AIDS, hospitalized in the Republic of Moldova some conclusions regarding which phenotype is more prevalent. The data collected in this study once again indicate the importance of timely detection of specific Herpes Zoster symptoms, in order to prevent irreversible consequences. Varicella zoster virus from its latent phase. It manifests itself as viral ganglioneuritis with damage to the intervertebral ganglia, ganglia of the cranial ner ves, skin, posterior and anterior horns of the gray matter. Herpes zoster is more common and more seve re in HIV-infected patients because cellular immunity is reduced. Aim of study. Assessment of the clinical features, epidemiology and t reatment of Herpes Zoster in people with diagnosed HIV/AIDS, hospitalized in the Derma tovenerology and Communicable Diseases Hospital, in the Republic of Moldova, during the 2018- 2023 period. Methods and materials. Data from the observation sheets of 143 patients, with d iagnosed HIV/AIDS, hospitalized in the Dermatovenerology and Communica ble Diseases Hospital in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova, were investigated according to th e National Clinical Protocol. The following aspects were analyzed: signs of Herpes Zoster in patients with HIV/AIDS which includes the presence of vesicular eruptions in the interco stal region, in the cervical region, in the back region or post-zoster neuralgia. The data in the study was collected using laboratory examinations and clinical-anamnestic data as investigative m ethods. Results. Among the investigated batch of patients, 50.3% (72) were me n, 49.7% (71) - women, the average age being 43 years and 2 months. Post-zoster ne uralgia was diagnosed in (107) 73.4% of the studied batch. Of those hospitalized with Herpes Z oster 26.6% (38) were in the active form, of which 57.9% (22) manifested vesicular eruptions in the inter costal region, 23.7% (9) manifested rashes in the back region and 18.4% (7) manifested rashes in the cervical region. The diagnosis of HIV was based on the following laboratory tests: anti-HIV an tibodies, HIV DNA test and viral culture. More informative is the HIV DNA test (PCR). The diagnosis of Herpes Zoster is based on laboratory tests: VZV DNA test (PCR) and VZV viral culture. Conclusion. HIV/AIDS remains a major public health issue worldwide. The evol ution of HIV infection is highly variable, thus it has a large number o f potential complications. One such complication which is investigated in this study is Herpes Z oster. Following the study of the characteristics associated with Herpes Zoster in patien ts with HIV/AIDS, hospitalized in the Republic of Moldova some conclusions regarding which phenoty pe is more prevalent. The data collected in this study once again indicate the importan ce of timely detection of specific Herpes Zoster symptoms, in order to prevent irreversible conseque nces.