Successful IL-2 therapy for relapsing herpes zoster infection in a patientwith idiopathic CD4(+) T lymphocytopenia

Idiopathic CD4(+) T lymphocytopenia (ICL) has been defined by the center of disease control as a rare cause of immunodeficiency with a variable clinic al course and an unknown aetiology. Here we describe a 65-year old patient with relapsing generalized herpes zoster infection due to ICL and a severe pan-lymphocytopenia. In vitro assays revealed an enhanced activation of CD8 (+) T cells and an increased sensitivity of activated CD4(+) T cells for ce ll death. The clinical outcome was substantially improved after starting th e patient on a subcutanous therapy with IL-2.