Shingles and Chickenpox (Varicella-Zoster Virus) - Diagnosis

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Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin

Varicella-zoster immune globulin (VariZIG) is a substance that mimics the normal immune response against the varicella-zoster virus. It is used to protect high-risk patients who are exposed to chickenpox. Such groups include:

• Pregnant women with no history of chickenpox who have not been previously immunized
• Newborn infants whose mothers had signs or symptoms of chickenpox around the time of delivery (5 days before to 2 days after)
• Premature infants
• Immunocompromised children and adults with no antibodies to VZV
• Recipients of bone-marrow transplants (even if they have had chickenpox)
• Patients with a debilitating disease (even if they have had chickenpox)

For these patients, VariZIG should be given within 96 hours of exposure to someone with chickenpox. (Note: VariZIG is a new formulation of an older drug called VZIG, which is no longer produced.)

Review Date: 05/03/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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