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Persistently High Antibody Titers and Deficient Specific Cellular Immunity to Varicella‐Zoster Virus in a Retarded Patient after Varicella Infection
Author(s) -
Terada Kihei,
Kawano Shoji,
Yoshihiro Kiyomi,
Morita Tetsuro
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1992.tb00987.x
Subject(s) - medicine , varicella zoster virus , immunology , cellular immunity , immunity , virus , virology , chickenpox , antibody , antibody titer , titer , immune system
We report on a 19 month old female who has been retarded developmentally after a severe varicella infection contracted from her mother 4 months after delivery. Her titer of varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) IgG antibody has been remarkably high for 4 years after the infection. Natural killer activity and the specific cellular immunity to VZV, as tested by delayed type hypersensitivity skin test and lymphocyte‐proliferation assay, were impaired. She had an improvement of ataxia and then progressed developmentally after administration of an anti‐viral agent. Administration of oral corticosteroids and methylprednisolone transiently decreased titers of VZV antibody and, contrary to previous reports, returned natural killer activity to normal levels. We suggest that this case may be a persistent VZV infection similar to congenital cytomegalovirus infection due to selective defects in cellular immunity including NK cells. Whether this specific deficient cellular immunity is genetically determined or secondary to the viral infection is speculative. This is the first known report of such a case.