Cell-free DNA Levels in Herpes Zoster: A Cross-sectional Longitudinal Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v105.42137Keywords:
herpes zoster, post-herpetic neuralgia, human herpes virus, cell-free DNA, inflammation marker.Abstract
This study investigates serum cell-free DNA fluctuations in patients with herpes zoster or post-herpetic neuralgia, offering insight into the tissue damage and inflammatory dynamics associated with these conditions. A single-centre combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study was conducted with 59 patients to assess cell-free DNA levels in herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia. Cell-free DNA was extracted from blood samples of patients with herpes zoster or post-herpetic neuralgia and compared with healthy controls. The findings demonstrated elevated cell-free DNA levels in patients with herpes zoster, which remained elevated for 3 months or longer following treat-ment. These results suggest the presence of a subacute inflammatory state after herpes zoster infection. Furthermore, patients who developed post-herpetic neuralgia did not show elevated cell-free DNA levels, while those who did not develop post-herpetic neuralgia exhibited increased levels. This indicates that post-herpetic neuralgia is likely a localized response to prior nerve damage rather than a systemic inflammatory process with acute tissue damage.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Chaya Bracha Gordon, Yaron Zenaty, Ayelet Ollech, Gidon Test, Amos Douvdevani, Amir Horev
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