Cell-mediated immune hypersensitivity is stronger on noninvolved side than involved side in patients with herpes zoster.

The difference between involved and noninvolved sides of the body in cell-mediated immunity was investigated in this work; tuberculin reactions in two forearms were assessed in men and women with herpes zoster. The tuberculin reaction was smaller on the involved side than in the noninvolved side of the body in total sample, men and women. The results suggested that the lower activity of cell-mediated immune system in one side of the body may be related to the unilateral involvement of the zona-zoster infection.