zoster immune globulin

Zoster immune globulin (ZIG) is a temporary preventative measure used for individuals exposed to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) who are at high risk, such as those with compromised immune systems or pregnant women. ZIG is derived from the plasma of adults who have recently had herpes zoster (shingles) and thus possess high levels of antibodies against VZV.12

Herpes zoster is an acute viral infection caused by the reactivation of the VZV, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a chickenpox infection, the virus can lie dormant in nerve cells and reactivate later in life, leading to a painful rash along nerve segments. While chickenpox typically confers lifelong immunity, herpes zoster is a reactivation of the latent virus. ZIG can help prevent the development of chickenpox in exposed individuals by providing these antibodies, though its protection is temporary.31