[Herpes simplex virus antibodies in 18 patients submitted to immunosuppressive agents after renal transplantation]

The titer of circulating antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 was tested in 18 patients for a few months before and after renal transplantation. No clinical illness was observed in the group of patients lacking antibodies. On the contrary, half of those with antibodies developed cutaneous eruption within 2 to 4 weeks following treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. No relationship could be found between the appearance of clinical illness and the rise in antibody titer. This lack of correlation could be explained by the multiple modifications occurring in the immune system of the host submitted to immunosuppressive drugs.