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Pilot study of antibodies against varicella zoster virus and human immunodeficiency virus in relation to the risk of developing stroke, nested within a rural cohort in U ganda
Author(s) -
Asiki Gershim,
Stockdale Lisa,
Kasamba Ivan,
Vudriko Tobias,
Tumwekwase Grace,
Johnston Tom,
Kaleebu Pontiano,
Kamali Anatoli,
Seeley Janet,
Newton Robert
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12556
Subject(s) - medicine , varicella zoster virus , stroke (engine) , chickenpox , virus , prospective cohort study , antibody , cohort , nested case control study , cohort study , pediatrics , immunology , virology , mechanical engineering , engineering
Abstract Objective The risk of stroke rises after episodes of herpes zoster and chickenpox, which are caused by varicella zoster virus ( VZV ). We conducted a pilot case–control study of stroke, nested within a long‐standing cohort in U ganda (the G eneral P opulation C ohort), to examine antibodies against VZV prior to diagnosis. Methods We used stored sera to examine the evolution of I g G and I g M antibodies against VZV among 31 clinically confirmed cases of stroke and 132 matched controls. For each participant, three samples of sera were identified: one each, taken at or near the time of (pseudo)diagnosis, between 5 and 10 years prior to diagnosis and at 15 years prior to diagnosis. Results All participants had detectable antibodies against VZV , but there were no significant differences between cases and controls in the 15 years prior to diagnosis. As a secondary finding, 16% (5/31) of cases and 6% (8/132) of controls had HIV ( OR 3.0; 95% CI 0.8–10.1; P = 0.06). Conclusions This is the first prospective study to examine a biological measure of exposure to VZV prior to diagnosis of stroke and although we identified no significant association, in this small pilot, with limited characterisation of cases, we cannot exclude the possibility that the virus is causal for a subset. The impact of HIV on risk of stroke has not been well characterised and warrants further study.