Lymphopaenia, anti-Ro/anti-RNP autoantibodies, renal involvement and cyclophosphamide use correlate with increased risk of herpes zoster in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Herpes zoster occurs with increased frequency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with development of herpes zoster in patients with SLE. A retrospective case-control study was performed in a population of patients with SLE. Patients were identified as cases if their first episode of herpes zoster occurred after diagnosis of SLE. Patients with SLE who never developed herpes zoster were enrolled as controls. Medical charts and laboratory data for both cases and control patients were comprehensively reviewed. A total of 65 cases and 105 controls were included. Risk factors associated with the development of herpes zoster in patients with SLE were found to be lymphopaenia, anti-Ro antibodies, anti-RNP antibodies, neuropsychiatric manifestations, renal involvement and cyclophosphamide use. Therefore, the presence of certain disease manifestations in patients with SLE represents risk factors for the development of herpes zoster.