Evaluation of zoster immune plasma. Treatment of cutaneous disseminated zoster in immunocompromised patients

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Abstract
Zoster immune plasma (ZIP) was evaluated for treatment of cutaneous disseminated zoster in immunocompromised hosts. Twenty patients were studied: 13 were enrolled in a double-blind protocol, 5 received ZIP under an open protocol and 2 were observed without receiving a transfusion. In the double-blind study, 8 patients actually received ZIP; 5 were given plasma lacking varicella-zoster virus antibodies (control plasma). The clinical course of zoster in the group given ZIP was the same as that of patients given control plasma or no transfusions. Because ZIP did not alter the clinical course of zoster and because zoster patients produced high-antibody titers without ZIP, ZIP is not useful for treatment of cutaneous disseminated zoster and should be reserved for prevention or modification of varicella in exposed, susceptible immunocompromised patients.

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