High levels of IgE in patients suffering from frequent recurrent herpes simplex lesions.

We have examined a large number of patients suffering from frequent or infrequent recurrences of lesions induced by herpes simplex virus (HSV). We report in this article that patients suffering from very frequent HSV recurrences (five or more recurrences per year) had IgE serum levels that were significantly higher than those found in patients who suffered relatively few recurrences of HSV-induced disease. These elevated serum IgE levels were only detected during periods of active disease.