%0 Journal Article
%T Is the level of varicella-zoster virus IgG associated with symptomatic status of genital herpes simplex virus infection? A case-control study.
%A Palmer BS
%A Tang A
%A Winchester S
%A Atkins M
%A Barton S
%A Kelleher P
%J Int J STD AIDS
%V 35
%N 4
%D 2024 Mar 13
%M 38093464
%F 1.456
%R 10.1177/09564624231221172
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common infection, affecting the majority of the population by age of 50. Recurrent symptomatic outbreaks, experienced by a minority, have significant psychological and psychosexual effects. The varicella zoster virus (VZV), resembling HSV, shows potential for a functional cure via vaccination. This study seeks to investigate if there is an association between low VZV antibody levels and recurrent HSV outbreaks.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>A total of 110 patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic HSV were recruited during their sexual health screen. Serum samples were collected between Aug 2019 - July 2022; breaks in the study occurred due to COVID. The primary outcome measure was the serological status of HSV and VZV IgG titre level.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>The average age was 37.3 years (range 21-65 years). For people with asymptomatic genital HSV2 the average VZV IgG titre was 2373.9 IU/mL (n = 17); and 1219.0 IU/mL for the symptomatic group (n = 67); p ≤ 0.00001), with similar results for HSV1.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>There is a strong association between average higher varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgG level and being an asymptomatic carrier of herpes simplex sirus (HSV)1&2. A feasibility study to assess the use of the VZV vaccine as a treatment of HSV is planned.