However, elevation in cathepsin D (OR: 0.6807, 95% CI: 0.4638-0.9991, PIVW: 0.0495) and IL-18 (OR: 0.6845, 95% CI: 0.4715-0.9939, PIVW: 0.0464) was associated with a decreased risk of herpes zoster. Here, CTSD is linked to herpes zoster.