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Ann Intern Med 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (R.H., A.G., I.R.O., F.Z., K.D.).

Background: The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recently developed recommendations for use of a new recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV). Read More

Pain Res Manag 2019 14;2019:9161906. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Department of Anesthesiology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Pain disease is a worldwide problem.The prevalence of chronic pain in developed and developing countries has been reported in some published research. However, little knowledge of situation of pain clinic in Tibet is known. Read More

Mayo Clin Proc 2019 Feb 1. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Electronic address:

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common complication of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation and a cause of considerable physical and psychosocial morbidity. No known treatment effectively prevents the development of PHN in patients with VZV reactivation. In this study, our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of premedication with gabapentin for reducing the risk of PHN in patients with diabetic and nondiabetic neuropathy. Read More

Pain Rep 2018 Nov 7;3(6):e702. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, and Center for Research on Pain, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.

Introduction: Pain in herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is traditionally explained in terms of 2 processes: irritable nociceptors in the rash-inflamed skin and, later, deafferentation due to destruction of sensory neurons in one virally infected dorsal root ganglion.

Objectives And Methods: Consideration of the evidence supporting this explanation in light of contemporary understanding of the pain system finds it wanting. An alternative hypothesis is proposed as a replacement. Read More

Pain Rep 2018 Nov 26;3(6):e668. Epub 2018 Oct 26.

Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.

Introduction: In postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) different types of patients can be distinguished regarding their predominant peripheral nociceptor function.

Objective: The aim was to examine somatosensory profiles in the course of disease with special regard to the different subtypes existing in PHN.

Methods: Twenty patients with PHN (7 men and 13 women, age 67 ± 9. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2019 Jan 30;19(1):99. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometry, and Informatics (IMEBI), Medical Faculty of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 8, 06110, Halle (Saale), Germany.

Background: Until now, herpes zoster (HZ)-related disease burden in Germany has been estimated based on health insurance data and clinical findings. However, the validity of self-reported HZ is unclear. This study investigated the validity of self-reported herpes zoster (HZ) and its complication postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) using data from the pretest studies of the German National Cohort (GNC) in comparison with estimates based on health insurance data. Read More

Viruses 2019 Jan 26;11(2). Epub 2019 Jan 26.

Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly prevalent human pathogen that causes varicella (chicken pox) during primary infection and establishes latency in peripheral neurons. Symptomatic reactivation often presents as zoster (shingles), but it has also been linked to life-threatening diseases such as encephalitis, vasculopathy and meningitis. Zoster may be followed by postherpetic neuralgia, neuropathic pain lasting after resolution of the rash. Read More

Vaccine 2019 Feb 23;37(9):1235-1244. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States. Electronic address:

Background/objectives: Herpes zoster (HZ) incidence increases with age, and the burden of HZ is expected to grow with aging of populations worldwide. We aim to determine the incremental healthcare resource utilization and associated costs of patients with common HZ-related complications other than postherpetic neuralgia (cutaneous, neurologic and ophthalmic) compared to uncomplicated HZ.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of commercial health insurance claims covering about 40 million immunocompetent individuals aged ≥50 years at study entry from all over the US, from 2008 to 2013, with follow-up for one year after HZ onset. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019 01 23;1:CD007076. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Pain Research and Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics), University of Oxford, Pain Research Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK, OX3 7LE.

Background: This review updates part of an earlier Cochrane Review titled "Pregabalin for acute and chronic pain in adults", and considers only neuropathic pain (pain from damage to nervous tissue). Antiepileptic drugs have long been used in pain management. Pregabalin is an antiepileptic drug used in management of chronic pain conditions. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Jan 21;9(1):e023600. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Objective: To assess the benefits and harms of pregabalin in the management of neuropathic pain.

Design: Rapid review and meta-analysis of phase III, randomised, placebo-controlled trials.

Participants: Adults aged 18 years and above with neuropathic pain defined according to the International Association for the Study of Pain criteria. Read More

Acta Dermatovenerol Croat 2018 Dec;26(4):337-338

Associate Professor Suzana Ljubojević Hadžavdić, MD, PhD, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Šalata 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute, cutaneous viral infection caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) (1). It is a frequent medical condition with an incidence rate of 2-3 cases per 1000 person/years in the general population and 7-10 cases per 1000 person/years after the age of 50 (1,2). Risk factors and triggers for reactivation of HZV have not yet been determined precisely, but are likely to include malignancies, immune deficiencies, solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients, autoimmune diseases, psychological conditions, emotional stress, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and other patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies (1,3). Read More

J Pain Res 2019 7;12:243-253. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Pain and Palliative Care Department, Federal University of Maranhão, Maranhão, Brazil.

Objectives: Estimate the prevalence of neuropathic pain (NeP) among chronic pain patients attending Brazilian hospitals and pain clinics in São Paulo, Ceara, and Bahia and explore clinical characteristics by subtypes: painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN), central neuropathic pain (CNP), chronic low back pain with a neuropathic component (CLBP-NeP), postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), post-traumatic neuropathic pain (PTN), and post-surgical neuropathic pain (PSN).

Methods: Physicians screened patients reporting chronic pain for ≥3 months (n=2,118) for probable NeP, using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire and physician assessment, and reported their NeP subtype(s), symptoms, and medications. Identified NeP patients completed a questionnaire including treatment experiences, quality of life EuroQol 5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), pain severity and interference (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI]), and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scales. Read More

Pain Pract 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.

Objectives: There are no community-based studies investigating the association between sleep duration and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) development. The aim of the current study was to examine the association of sleep with herpes zoster (HZ) incidence and PHN.

Methods: In total, 12,329 residents of Shozu County, Japan (aged 50-103 years) participated in our study from December 2009 to November 2010 and were followed up for 3 years. Read More

J Child Neurol 2019 Jan 10:883073818821498. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

4 Division of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.

Varicella vaccination is now virtually universal in North America, as well as in some European and Asian countries. Since varicella vaccine is a live attenuated virus, the virus replicates in the skin after administration and can travel via sensory nerves or viremia to become latent in the dorsal root ganglia. In some immunized children, virus reactivates within a few months to a few years to cause the dermatomal exanthem known as herpes zoster (shingles). Read More

Neuromodulation 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Stereotaxy, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Introduction: Dorsal root ganglion stimulation is a meanwhile established but rather new technique of neuromodulation to treat chronic pain states of different origin. While being primarily used in the lumbar region, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation also can be used in the upper thoracic and cervical region with slight alterations of the surgical approach. This offers new therapeutic options especially in the treatment of neuropathic pain states of the upper extremities. Read More

J Pain Res 2019 18;12:39-47. Epub 2018 Dec 18.

Department of Pain, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China,

Purpose: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) detrimentally affects brain function. Recent studies have suggested that frequency-dependent changes in electroencephalography in chronic pain patients and blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) fluctuations can reflect neuronal activity in different frequencies. The current study aimed to investigate PHN-related brain oscillatory activity in a specific frequency band by using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method. Read More

Pain 2019 Jan;160(1):53-59

Department of Neurophysiology, CBTM, Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.

The upcoming 11th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) of the World Health Organization (WHO) offers a unique opportunity to improve the representation of painful disorders. For this purpose, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) has convened an interdisciplinary task force of pain specialists. Here, we present the case for a reclassification of nervous system lesions or diseases associated with persistent or recurrent pain for ≥3 months. Read More

Pain 2018 Dec 20. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Anaesthesiology, Multidisciplinary Pain Centre, University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.

This prospective cohort study aimed to characterize the sensory profile during acute herpes zoster (AHZ) and to explore sensory signs as well as physical and psychosocial health as predictors for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Results of quantitative sensory testing of 74 patients with AHZ at the affected site and at the distant contralateral control site were compared to a healthy control group. Pain characteristics (Neuropathic Pain and Symptom Inventory and SES), physical functioning, and psychosocial health aspects (Pain Disability Index, SF-36, and STAI) were assessed by questionnaires. Read More

J Neurosurg 2018 Dec;129(Suppl1):72-76

OBJECTIVEAblative procedures are still useful in the treatment of intractable pain despite the proliferation of neuromodulation techniques. In the paper the authors present the results of Gamma Knife thalamotomy (GKT) in various pain syndromes.METHODSBetween 1996 and 2016, unilateral GKT was performed in 30 patients suffering from various severe pain syndromes in whom conservative treatment had failed. Read More

J Pain 2018 Dec 4. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.

Peripheral neuropathic pain is among the most prevalent types of neuropathic pain. No comprehensive peripheral neuropathic pain classification system that incorporates contemporary clinical, diagnostic, biological, and psychological information exists. To address this need, this article covers the taxonomy for 4 focal or segmental peripheral neuropathic pain disorders, as part of the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks (ACTTION) public-private partnership and the American Pain Society (APS) collaborative to develop a standardized, evidence-based taxonomy initiative: the ACTTION-APS Pain Taxonomy (AAPT). Read More

Neurol India 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1711-1712

Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato, Minnesota 56001, USA.

Neurol India 2018 Nov-Dec;66(6):1706-1710

Department of Pain Management, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan, People's Republic of China.

Background: This study investigated the clinical effects of selective dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency lesioning in combination with oral administration of gabapentin in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Material And Methods: One hundred and sixteen consecutive cases of initially diagnosed patients with PHN were randomly divided into the control and the observation groups, with each group consisting of 58 patients. The control group was treated with oral gabapentin (2400 mg/d, tid), while the observation group received gabapentin and pulsed radiofrequency lesioing of the dorsal root ganglion. Read More

Complement Ther Med 2018 Dec 21;41:277-282. Epub 2018 Oct 21.

Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most distressful complication of herpes zoster. PHN results in an impaired quality of life and higher healthcare utilization. Vitamin B12 has been proven to be effective in pain relief for various conditions. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2019 Feb 20;38(2):365-372. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Family Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, No. 707, Sec. 3, Chung Yang Rd, Hualien, 97002, Taiwan.

This study aimed to investigate the association between herpes zoster (HZ) and the risks of osteoporosis and fracture. We conducted a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. The study enrolled 63,786 patients: 31,893 diagnosed with HZ between 2000 and 2012 were included in the HZ cohort, and 31,893 matched controls without HZ were included in the non-HZ cohort, with 1:1 exact matching for age, sex, and index year. Read More

Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2019 Mar 19;9(1):117-133. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Healthoutcomes Department, GSK, Tokyo, Japan.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to describe the disease burden and costs of herpes zoster (HZ) in the general adult Japanese population or patients with immunocompromised (IC) conditions or chronic disorders.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of individuals aged 18-74 years was conducted using January 2005 to December 2014 records from the Japan Medical Data Center claims database. Twenty-eight IC conditions and chronic disorders were defined by diagnosis codes and/or procedures/treatments. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Nov;97(46):e13178

Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder's Management of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Rationale: Hyponatremia following duloxetine treatment has been reported in patients with major depressive disorder, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy, or sciatic pain. The manifestations of duloxetine-induced hyponatremia are varying in different individuals. The overall prognosis for this type of hyponatremia is favorable if properly managed. Read More

Acad Emerg Med 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Acad Emerg Med 2018 Nov 12. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

Viruses 2018 11 2;10(11). Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a pathogenic human herpes virus that causes varicella (chickenpox) as a primary infection, following which it becomes latent in peripheral ganglia. Decades later, the virus may reactivate either spontaneously or after a number of triggering factors to cause herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella and its complications are more severe in the immunosuppressed. Read More

Pharmazie 2018 11;73(11):659-661

Mirogabalin, which is a novel ligand for the α₂δ subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, is under development for the treatment of pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy and postherpetic neuralgia. Mirogabalin possesses unique binding characteristics to α₂δ subunits and potent and long-lasting analgesic effects in peripheral neuropathic pain models. In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of mirogabalin in a rat model of spinal cord injury as an experimental animal model for central neuropathic pain. Read More

Drugs Aging 2018 12;35(12):1031-1040

Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.

Shingrix is a recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) that contains a varicella zoster virus glycoprotein E antigen and the AS01 adjuvant system. The subunit vaccine is approved for the prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) [EU, USA, Japan, Canada and Australia] and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) [EU and Australia] in adults aged ≥ 50 years. In the pivotal trials in adults aged ≥ 50 years (ZOE-50) and ≥ 70 years (ZOE-70), RZV significantly reduced the risk of HZ and PHN. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2019 Feb 16;37(2):375.e1-375.e3. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ataturk University School of Medicine, Erzurum, Turkey.

Herpes zoster is a painful, eruptive, viral condition occurring with reactivation in immunosuppressed individuals. The selection of an effective analgesic method in the acute phase of herpes zoster can decrease the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia by reducing neural sensitization. The erector spinae plane block has been reported to provide diffuse and effective analgesia in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions. Read More

J Pain Res 2018 2;11:2131-2144. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE and STCSM), Shanghai Changning ECNU Mental Health Center, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China,

Background: Although the interaction between pain and cognition has been recognized for decades, the neural substrates underlying their association remain unclear. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known as a critical brain area for higher cognitive functions, as well as for pain perception and modulation. The objective of the present study was to explore the role of the PFC in the interaction between chronic pain and cognitive functions by examining the relationship between spontaneous activity in the frontal lobe and pain intensity reported by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients. Read More

Anesth Analg 2018 Oct 12. Epub 2018 Oct 12.

From the Department of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, Missouri.

Recent findings from a phase II clinical trial showed analgesic effects of an angiotensin II type-2 receptor (AT2R) antagonist in postherpetic neuralgia patients. This study aimed to investigate whether AT2R antagonism could provide effective analgesia in voluntary measures of unevoked/ongoing pain-like behaviors in mice with experimental neuropathy. Mice were subjected to spared nerve injury to induce neuropathy and tested in 2 operant behavioral tests to measure ongoing mechanical and cold pain hypersensitivities. Read More

Korean J Pain 2018 Oct 1;31(4):235-243. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Shi, China.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most troublesome side effect of Herpes Zoster (HZ), which mainly affects the elderly and immunocompromised populations. Despite the current advancement of treatments, PHN persists in many individuals influencing their daily activities and reducing their quality of life. Anticonvulsants, antidepressants, topical therapies including lidocaine and capsaicin, and opioids, are the most widely used therapies for the treatment of PHN. Read More

Schmerz 2018 Dec;32(6):464-467

Institut für Schmerzmedizin, Schmerzpraxis Wiesbaden, Sonnenberger Str. 68, 65193, Wiesbaden, Deutschland.

A 68-year-old patient suffered from postzoster neuralgia with severe pain of the left trigeminal nerve V1. Despite medication with gabapentin 1800 mg/d, oxacarbazepine 600 mg, tapentadol 500 mg/d, amitriptyline 20 mg as well as ambroxol 20% ointment and lidocaine patch topically, the pain reached an intensity of 8-10 on the numeric rating scale (NRS). Wearing a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) mask at night to treat a sleep apnea was impossible or the mask was leaking under lidocaine patch, only topical ambroxol 20% brought a certain pain relief. Read More

Neuromodulation 2019 Jan 4;22(1):108-114. Epub 2018 Oct 4.

Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

Objective: Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) can relieve postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) caused by herpes zoster (HZ) infection. Nevertheless, its curative effect can vary and may be related to the duration of treatment period. The following study investigates the efficacy and safety of CT-guided PRF modulation on HZ neuralgia over different periods and different time points. Read More

BMC Infect Dis 2018 Oct 3;18(1):496. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Health Economics Department, GSK, Avenue Fleming 20, 1300, Wavre, Belgium.

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) is a painful dermatomal rash caused by reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus surviving in the patient's sensory ganglia after a previous episode of varicella. The incidence of HZ increases markedly with age as does the proportion of HZ patients who develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) with often severe and debilitating pain persisting for months and even years. This prospective study aimed to assess the impact of HZ and PHN on the quality of life (QoL) of individuals aged ≥ 50 years in Germany. Read More

Microsc Res Tech 2019 Jan 24;82(1):47-52. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Three-dimensional microscopy provides more extended depth of penetration compared with conventional light microscopy and is known to be useful in clinical evaluation of thick biological specimens. Skin nerve biopsy together with the quantification of intraepidermal nerve fibers in multiple thick sections has been widely adopted for evaluating peripheral neuropathies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectivity of three-dimensional microscopy in reducing the required time and inter-rater discrepancies, especially in the case of personnel not familiar with the quantification methods. Read More

Drugs 2018 Sep;78(14):1489-1500

Springer, Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay, Auckland, 0754, New Zealand.

The adhesive capsaicin dermal patch (Qutenza) delivers a high concentration (8% w/w) of synthetic capsaicin, a highly selective agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV-1), directly to the site of pain. The capsaicin 8% dermal patch is indicated in the EU for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP) in adults, either alone or in combination with other medicinal products for pain. In patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, a single 30-min application of the capsaicin 8% dermal patch provided 12 weeks of pain relief and improved sleep quality compared with placebo. Read More

J Infect Dis 2018 Sep;218(suppl_2):S120-S126

Division of Neurological Pain Research and Therapy, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany.

Patients with postherpetic neuralgia may experience various sensory signs and symptoms of pain. Despite this, the recommendations for medicinal treatment do not differ accordingly. In order to find the appropriate treatment options for postherpetic neuralgia, several attempts have been made in the past. Read More

J Infect Dis 2018 Sep;218(suppl_2):S127-S133

Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora.

Background: Immunization for herpes zoster (HZ) aims to reverse the decline in cell-mediated immunity to varicella zoster virus that occurs with advancing age or immunocompromise. There are 2 vaccines available, one live attenuated (Zoster vaccine, live attenuated [ZVL]) and, recently, a recombinant subunit vaccine (HZ/su).

Methods: The literature relevant to the two HZ vaccines was reviewed. Read More

JAAD Case Rep 2018 Sep 14;4(8):752-760. Epub 2018 Sep 14.

Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.

Frontline Gastroenterol 2018 Oct 3;9(4):323-324. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis, Den Bosch, Noord-Brabant, The Netherlands.

This case report describes a young, immunocompromised patient who presented with thoracic pain. After an extensive workup, she was diagnosed with a varicella zoster virus infection with involvement of the gastric mucosa, pancreas and lungs for which she was treated with acyclovir. Although the viral load decreased significantly, the patient had persistent postherpetic neuralgia and nausea. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Sep;97(38):e12388

Department of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Rationale: Effective treatments for trigeminal nerve postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) are limited. Adriamycin (doxorubicin) has been applied to the treatment of neuropathic pain. This study reports a new treatment: Adriamycin injected to Gasserian ganglion for an elderly patient with the intractable trigeminal nerve PHN. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2018 5;11:1401-1411. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy,

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an acute vesicular dermatitis with a typical dermatomal distribution, caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), often preceded and accompanied by prodromal pain or pruritus. HZ may be related to several complications such as postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). The incidence and severity of the disease increase with aging, due to immunosenescence and in particular to the decline of the specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI). Read More

J Pain Res 2018 3;11:1699-1708. Epub 2018 Sep 3.

Pfizer, New York, NY, USA,

Purpose: Pregabalin is indicated for postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in multiple countries, including China. This analysis compared pregabalin efficacy and safety in Chinese and international patients with PHN.

Patients And Methods: Data from Chinese and international randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials were compared. Read More

J Pain Res 2018 27;11:1637-1643. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Department of Anesthesiology, the Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.

Introduction: We investigated the effect and safety of ozone autohemotherapy combined with pharmacological therapy in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with PHN were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into a pharmacological therapy group and ozone autohemotherapy group (49 patients in each group). The PHN patients in the pharmacological therapy group were administered pharmacological therapy for 2 weeks, whereas PHN patients in the ozone autohemotherapy group were given ozone autohemotherapy (200 mL blood from patients, the concentration of medical ozone was set as 30 μg/mL using an ozone medical apparatus, 40 mL medical ozone was incubated in 200 mL autologous blood for 3-5 minutes) combined with pharmacological therapy for 2 weeks. Read More