Reactivation of varicella zoster virus and risk of vascular disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Reactivation of varicella zoster virus and risk of vascular disease in the Health Survey for England: a nested case control study
IRAS ID
173466
Contact name
Charlotte Warren-Gash
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to investigate whether there are links between having high levels of antibodies to the virus that causes shingles (varicella zoster virus or VZV), and risk of having a stroke or heart attack. It will also further describe the epidemiology of VZV in the UK population. Shingles is a painful blistering rash caused by the virus that causes chickenpox. After a person has had chickenpox infection, the virus lies dormant in their nerve cells and can reactivate later in life to cause shingles. Several previous studies suggest that there is an increased risk of stroke in time periods after having shingles. It is believed though that in people who have had chickenpox the virus might reactivate at a sub-clinical level leading them to produce antibodies to it, but with no overt signs of shingles. We are interested in whether this sub-clinical virus reactivation may be associated with stroke. We will also test whether a history of self-reported shingles is associated with stroke risk.
This work has potential implications for clinical practice: a shingles vaccine is available but it is currently only recommended for people aged 70 in the UK (with a catch up campaign for those aged 78 to 79). If this study shows that there are links between VZV reactivation and stroke, in future a simple blood test could be used to identify people with signs of virus reactivation and target them for vaccine to reduce their risk of shingles and its complications.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0456
Date of REC Opinion
20 May 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion