Antiviral treatment for preventing postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

There is high quality evidence that oral aciclovir does not reduce the incidence of PHN significantly. In addition, there is insufficient evidence to determine the effect of other antiviral treatments; therefore, further well-designed RCTs are needed to investigate famciclovir or other new antiviral agents in preventing PHN. Future trials should pay more attention to the severity of pain and quality of life of participants, and should be conducted among different subgroups of people, such as people who are immunocompromised.

Acute pain and postherpetic neuralgia related to Varicella zoster virus reactivation: Comparison between typical herpes zoster and zoster sine herpete

“…This is in agreement with other randomized controlled trials in which the antiviral drugs failed to reduce significant pain in HZ patients . In conclusion, VZV reactivation may develop without the typical cutaneous vesicular eruption, causing severer pain than in HZ.…”

Acute pain and postherpetic neuralgia related to Varicella zoster virus reactivation: Comparison between typical herpes zoster and zoster sine herpete

“…This is in agreement with other randomized controlled trials in which the antiviral drugs failed to reduce significant pain in HZ patients . In conclusion, VZV reactivation may develop without the typical cutaneous vesicular eruption, causing severer pain than in HZ.…”

Effects of applying nerve blocks to prevent postherpetic neuralgia in patients with acute herpes zoster: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Among the trials included in our meta analysis, the incidences of PHN in the control and placebo injection groups were 2.8% and 42.7% at 3 months, 13.3% and 33.9% at 6 months, and 16% and 34.4% at 12 months. These values, which are considered the natural PHN incidence, are similar to previously reported studies [57]; in contrast, PHN incidence in the groups treated with nerve blocks was 0-26.7% at 3 months, 0-26.7% at 6 months, and 2-5.9% at 12 months. Incidence was significantly lower in comparison to the control groups during each observation period, and the efficacy of administering neural blocks to prevent the development of PHN increased over time.…”

The Incidence of Herpes Zoster Complications: A Systematic Literature Review

“…One study [ 144 ] reported no significant effect of antiviral drugs on HZ-related pain including PHN. This observation is in line with a meta-analysis [ 157 ] of the effect of antiviral treatment on preventing PHN from six clinical trials, determining with high certainty that orally administered aciclovir does not reduce the incidence of PHN significantly, and stating insufficient evidence to determine the effect of other antiviral treatments. An apparent unmet need in managing PHN effectively is discussed elsewhere [ 158 ].…”

Acute pain and postherpetic neuralgia related to Varicella zoster virus reactivation: Comparison between typical herpes zoster and zoster sine herpete

“…This is in agreement with other randomized controlled trials in which the antiviral drugs failed to reduce significant pain in HZ patients . In conclusion, VZV reactivation may develop without the typical cutaneous vesicular eruption, causing severer pain than in HZ.…”

Effects of applying nerve blocks to prevent postherpetic neuralgia in patients with acute herpes zoster: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Among the trials included in our meta analysis, the incidences of PHN in the control and placebo injection groups were 2.8% and 42.7% at 3 months, 13.3% and 33.9% at 6 months, and 16% and 34.4% at 12 months. These values, which are considered the natural PHN incidence, are similar to previously reported studies [57]; in contrast, PHN incidence in the groups treated with nerve blocks was 0-26.7% at 3 months, 0-26.7% at 6 months, and 2-5.9% at 12 months. Incidence was significantly lower in comparison to the control groups during each observation period, and the efficacy of administering neural blocks to prevent the development of PHN increased over time.…”

The Incidence of Herpes Zoster Complications: A Systematic Literature Review

“…One study [ 144 ] reported no significant effect of antiviral drugs on HZ-related pain including PHN. This observation is in line with a meta-analysis [ 157 ] of the effect of antiviral treatment on preventing PHN from six clinical trials, determining with high certainty that orally administered aciclovir does not reduce the incidence of PHN significantly, and stating insufficient evidence to determine the effect of other antiviral treatments. An apparent unmet need in managing PHN effectively is discussed elsewhere [ 158 ].…”

Acute pain and postherpetic neuralgia related to Varicella zoster virus reactivation: Comparison between typical herpes zoster and zoster sine herpete

“…This is in agreement with other randomized controlled trials in which the antiviral drugs failed to reduce significant pain in HZ patients . In conclusion, VZV reactivation may develop without the typical cutaneous vesicular eruption, causing severer pain than in HZ.…”

Effects of applying nerve blocks to prevent postherpetic neuralgia in patients with acute herpes zoster: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Among the trials included in our meta analysis, the incidences of PHN in the control and placebo injection groups were 2.8% and 42.7% at 3 months, 13.3% and 33.9% at 6 months, and 16% and 34.4% at 12 months. These values, which are considered the natural PHN incidence, are similar to previously reported studies [57]; in contrast, PHN incidence in the groups treated with nerve blocks was 0-26.7% at 3 months, 0-26.7% at 6 months, and 2-5.9% at 12 months. Incidence was significantly lower in comparison to the control groups during each observation period, and the efficacy of administering neural blocks to prevent the development of PHN increased over time.…”

The Incidence of Herpes Zoster Complications: A Systematic Literature Review

“…One study [ 144 ] reported no significant effect of antiviral drugs on HZ-related pain including PHN. This observation is in line with a meta-analysis [ 157 ] of the effect of antiviral treatment on preventing PHN from six clinical trials, determining with high certainty that orally administered aciclovir does not reduce the incidence of PHN significantly, and stating insufficient evidence to determine the effect of other antiviral treatments. An apparent unmet need in managing PHN effectively is discussed elsewhere [ 158 ].…”