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Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Increases Risk of Cancer

Posted By Dr. Ari Weitzner On June 14, 2011 @ 5:08 am In Cancer | Comments Disabled

Ophthalmology:  Shingles, especially around the eye, can be very painful and sometimes blinding. It typically occurs in the elderly (who have less robust immune systems) and immunocompromised patients like AIDS or other diseases. This depressed immune system is thought to be the reason why patients with shingles have a 4.8% risk of cancer 1 year following, whereas age-matched controls have a 0.53% risk- a 9.25 fold risk. That is an impressive number. It gives impetus to the branch of cancer study that focuses on the immune system in the fight against cancer.


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