Differences in Serum S100B Levels, Quality of Life, Sleep Quality, and Depression Levels in Herpes Zoster with and without Neuropathic Pain

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a chronic infectious disease caused by reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) that attacks sensory nerves, leading to neuropathic pain, which contributes to disability and long-term psychosocial disorders even after antiviral treatment has been completed. This condition impacts quality of life, sleep quality, and mental health. Peripheral nerve damage occurs through a neuroinflammatory mechanism characterized by activation of nerve glial cells that release neuroglial biomarkers such as S100B protein, where elevated levels are thought to reflect the degree of peripheral nerve damage. This study aims to analyze differences in serum S100B levels, quality of life, sleep quality, and depression levels between HZ patients with and without neuropathic pain. This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in Bali, Indonesia. Research subjects were HZ patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Research instruments included WHOQOL-BREF (to assess quality of life), PSQI (to assess sleep quality), DASS-21 (to assess depression levels), and serum S100B level examination using the ELISA method. Statistical analysis used the Mann-Whitney test and the Chi-Square test. The study results showed that serum S100B levels were higher in the HZ patient group with neuropathic pain compared to those without neuropathic pain (p = 0.008). HZ patients with neuropathic pain also had lower quality of life (p < 0.001), worse sleep quality (p < 0.001), and higher depression levels (p = 0.002) compared to the group without pain. This study concludes that there are significant differences in serum S100B levels, quality of life, sleep quality, and depression levels between HZ patients with and without neuropathic pain. Elevated S100B levels indicate the involvement of neuroinflammatory processes in the mechanism of neuropathic pain. HZ patients with neuropathic pain tend to have worse quality of life and sleep quality, as well as higher depression levels. This illustrates that neuropathic pain in HZ involves complex interactions between biological damage and psychosocial disorders.