Varicella-zoster virus-associated central nervous system infection in immunocompromised vs. immunocompetent herpes zoster patients: a comparative study

Objectives: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a significant pathogen of viral central nervous system (CNS) infections. There are many studies on VZV-associated CNS infections, but there is currently a lack of large-sample comparative studies on VZV-associated CNS infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised herpes zoster (HZ) patients. In this study, we compared the clinical characteristics and prognosis of VZV-associated CNS infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised HZ patients. Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at a tertiary hospital specializing in dermatology in East China, compares clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis at discharge in 117 immunocompetent and 49 immunocompromised HZ patients with VZV-associated CNS infection. Results: Compared with the immunocompetent group, the incidence of encephalitis in immunocompromised HZ patients with VZV-associated CNS infections was significantly higher (P