ObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between the changes of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE), T cell subsets, inflammatory cytokines and pain in patients with herpes zoster.

MethodsA total of 66 patients with acute herpes zoster were set as the observation group, which were divided into mild pain group, moderate pain group and severe pain group according to visual analogue scale(VAS) score.Another 30 healthy people in the same period were set as the control group.The serum levels of NSE, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the ratios of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in venous blood were compared among the groups.The correlation between the above indexes and VAS score in the observation group was analyzed.

ResultsThe serum levels of NSE and TNF-α in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01).The serum levels of NSE, TNF-α, IL-6 increased gradually among mild pain group, moderate pain group and severe pain group (P < 0.05).The ratios of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in venous blood in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group(P < 0.01), and the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ was markedly higher than that in control group (P < 0.01).The ratios of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ decreased gradually among mild pain group, moderate pain group and severe pain group (P < 0.01).The VAS score in observation group was positively correlated with the serum levels of NSE, TNF-α and IL-6(r=0.695, 0.718, 0.726, P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with the ratios of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ in venous blood (r=-0.624, -0.674, -0.524, -0.445, P < 0.05).

ConclusionsPatients with herpes zoster have low immune function, increased inflammatory reaction and certain degree of nerve injury, which are closely related to the occurrence of pain.