IMPAIRED SPECIFIC CELLULAR-IMMUNITY TO THE VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS IN PATIENTS WITH HERPES-ZOSTER OTICUS

The possible involvement of depression on cellular immunity in reactiv ation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in herpes tester oticus was inve stigated. The subjects comprised 59 cases of herpes tester oticus, 33 cases of herpes tester sine herpete (ZSH) with facial paralysis, and 2 05 cases of Bell's palsy. The transformation rate of lymphocytes to ph ytohaemagglutinin in herpes tester oticus tended to be lower than that in Bell's palsy. In skin tests with purified protein derivatives of t uberculin, the positivity rate in herpes tester oticus was significant ly lower than that in Bell's palsy (p<0.015). In skin tests using VZV antigen, the positivity rate in herpes tester oticus and ZSH were sign ificantly lower than that of Bell's palsy (p<0.001 and p<0.015, respec tively). Thus, it was noted that cellular immunity, especially specifi c cellular immunity against VZV, was significantly depressed in herpes tester oticus and ZSH. We consider that depression of specific cellul ar immunity plays an important role in triggering reactivation of VZV and onset of these diseases.