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Journal of Internal Medicine May 2011Declining cell-mediated immunity to varicella zoster virus (VZV) in elderly individuals results in virus reactivation manifest by zoster (shingles) and postherpetic... (Review)
Review
Declining cell-mediated immunity to varicella zoster virus (VZV) in elderly individuals results in virus reactivation manifest by zoster (shingles) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). To prevent virus reactivation, a new VZV vaccine (Zostavax; Merck) that boosts cell-mediated immunity to VZV was developed. The 3-year Shingles Prevention Study showed that Zostavax significantly reduced burden of disease because of zoster and PHN. Despite its cost-effectiveness for adults aged 65-75 years, as determined in the United States, Canada and UK, <2% of immunocompetent adults over age 60 years in the United States were immunized in 2007. This was because of a combination of lack of patient awareness of the vaccine, physicians' uncertainty about the duration of protection and different cost-sharing plans for immunization. Nevertheless, zoster vaccine is safe, effective and highly recommended for immunization of immunocompetent individuals over age 60 years with no history of recent zoster.
Topics: Aged; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Humans; Middle Aged; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Vaccines, Attenuated
PubMed: 21294791
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2011.02359.x -
Nutrients Nov 2019Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <75 nmol/L) is associated with neuropathic pain and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunity. A two-part retrospective...
Hypovitaminosis D (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) <75 nmol/L) is associated with neuropathic pain and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunity. A two-part retrospective hospital-based study was conducted. Part I (a case-control study): To investigate the prevalence and risk of hypovitaminosis D in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients compared to those in gender/index-month/age-auto matched controls who underwent health examinations. Patients aged ≥50 years were automatically selected by ICD-9 codes for shingle/PHN. Charts were reviewed. Part II (a cross-sectional study): To determine associations between 25(OH)D, VZV IgG/M, pain and items in the DN4 questionnaire at the first pain clinic visit of patients. Independent predictors of PHN were presented as adjusted odds ratios(AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Prevalence (73.9%) of hypovitaminosis D in 88 patients was high. In conditional logistic regressions, independent predictors for PHN were hypovitaminosis D (AOR3.12, 95% CI1.73-5.61), malignancy (AOR3.21, 95% CI 1.38-7.48) and -related peptic ulcer disease (AOR3.47, 95% CI 1.71-7.03). 25(OH)D was inversely correlated to spontaneous/brush-evoked pain. Spontaneous pain was positively correlated to VZV IgM. Based on the receiver operator characteristic curve, cutoffs for 25(OH)D to predict spontaneous and brush-evoked pain were 67.0 and 169.0 nmol/L, respectively. A prospective, longitudinal study is needed to elucidate the findings.
Topics: Case-Control Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Herpesvirus 3, Human; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Odds Ratio; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency
PubMed: 31731694
DOI: 10.3390/nu11112787 -
Neurology Sep 2013Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous, highly neurotropic, exclusively human α-herpesvirus. Primary infection usually results in varicella (chickenpox), after... (Review)
Review
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a ubiquitous, highly neurotropic, exclusively human α-herpesvirus. Primary infection usually results in varicella (chickenpox), after which VZV becomes latent in neurons of cranial nerve ganglia, dorsal root ganglia, and autonomic ganglia along the entire neuraxis. As humans undergo a natural decline in cell-mediated immunity (CMI) to VZV with age, VZV frequently reactivates to produce zoster, characterized by maculopapular or vesicular rash and dermatomal-distribution pain. Pain and rash usually occur within days of each other. Pain is severe and often burning. Colorful descriptions of zoster exist worldwide. In Arabic, Hezam innar ( ) means belt of fire; in Hindi, Baoisayaa daga ( ) means big rash; in Norwegian, Helvetesild means Hell's fire (also described as a bell of roses from Hell); and in Spanish, Culebrilla means small snake.(1) The most common complication of zoster is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), operationally defined as pain lasting for more than 90 days after rash. Zoster may be followed by multiple neurologic disorders (meningoencephalitis, myelitis, and vasculopathy, including VZV temporal arteritis) as well as ocular disease (acute or progressive outer retinal necrosis).
Topics: Chickenpox; Global Health; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Neuralgia, Postherpetic
PubMed: 23999562
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a3516e -
PloS One 2014Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the painful complication of a varicella zoster virus reactivation. We investigated the systemic and local gene expression of pro- and...
BACKGROUND
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the painful complication of a varicella zoster virus reactivation. We investigated the systemic and local gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in patients with PHN.
METHODS
Thirteen patients with PHN at the torso (Th4-S1) were recruited. Skin punch biopsies were obtained from the painful and the contralateral painless body area for intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) and cytokine profiling. Additionally, blood was withdrawn for systemic cytokine expression and compared to blood values of healthy controls. We analyzed the gene expression of selected pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF] and interleukins [IL]-1β, IL-2, and IL-8).
RESULTS
IENFD was lower in affected skin compared to unaffected skin (p<0.05), while local gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines did not differ except for two patients who had 7fold higher IL-6 and 10fold higher IL-10 gene expression in the affected skin compared to the contralateral unaffected skin sample. Also, the systemic expression of cytokines in patients with PHN and in healthy controls was similar.
CONCLUSION
While the systemic and local expression of the investigated pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was not different from controls, this may have been influenced by study limitations like the low number of patients and different disease durations. Furthermore, other cytokines or pain mediators need to be considered.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Case-Control Studies; Cytokines; Female; Gene Expression; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Pain; Skin
PubMed: 25127283
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105269 -
European Review For Medical and... May 2022Chronic pain is currently considered a disease state with biopsychosocial consequences and a negative impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). Pain from postherpetic... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Chronic pain is currently considered a disease state with biopsychosocial consequences and a negative impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). Pain from postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) can persist for months or years and is a prototypical example of chronic pain. We analyzed PHN as a model of chronic pain, including its effects on QoL and clinical aspects. We explored treatment options, focusing on the topical treatment with lidocaine 700 mg medicated plaster (LMP) and how this impacts PHN management.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This article is a narrative review of published studies. Preclinical and clinical studies were retrieved from literature through a search performed in PubMed/MEDLINE.
RESULTS
To choose the appropriate treatment for chronic pains, such as PHN, not only efficacy but also tolerability, manageability, practicality, and compliance are important factors, especially in the long term. It is also important to set treatment expectations with the patients as total suppression of pain may be unrealistic, and a balance needs to be found between pain control and the minimization of adverse events. In this respect, LMP may be the best currently available treatment: it is easy to use, has low systemic absorption and thus a low risk for pharmacological interactions. Therefore, treatments can be personalized, and concomitant medications can be added, if needed. Recent data from a real-world study support this view by showing that LMP has superior effectiveness in reducing pain and improving the QoL compared to other commonly used systemic treatments and confirming its good tolerability profile that is mainly characterized by localized skin reactions.
CONCLUSIONS
LMP is one of the best currently available treatment options for PHN patients balancing good efficacy with an excellent tolerability profile and can therefore be considered for use as a first-line treatment for PHN.
Topics: Anesthetics, Local; Chronic Pain; Humans; Lidocaine; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35647848
DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202205_28862 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Oct 2018Herpes 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... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
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.
METHODS
Patients were recruited when consulting primary care physicians for a first HZ episode. PHN was defined as a 'worst' pain score ≥ 3 on the Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI) scale persisting or appearing 90 days or more after rash onset. PHN-cases were followed for up to nine months after rash onset. The interference of pain with patients' ability to carry out normal activities was assessed by the ZBPI activities of daily living (ADL) scale and QoL by the EuroQoL five-dimension scale (EQ-5D) utility score.
RESULTS
Of 513 patients enrolled, 61 (11.9%) developed PHN. At HZ onset, the mean ZBPI worst pain score of all patients was 5.1, the least square (LS)means estimates of the ZBPI ADL and EQ-5D utility scores were 2.970 and 0.740, respectively. Over three months follow-up, the pain scores decreased and the QoL increased monotonically across all age groups. At Day 90, the mean ZBPI worst pain score of the PHN patients was 4.4, while the LSmeans estimates of the ZBPI ADL and EQ-5D utility scores were 2.899 and 0.826, respectively. For patients with PHN persisting at nine months, the pain scores and QoL remained unchanged over the six months following the development of PHN.
CONCLUSION
HZ and PHN had a substantial impact on the patients' QoL and ability to function in their normal activities. There was a clear association in time between the evolution of pain and estimated QoL. The impact on ADL and QoL did not vary with age.
Topics: Activities of Daily Living; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Exanthema; Female; Germany; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Pain Measurement; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life
PubMed: 30285731
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-018-3395-z -
Medicine Dec 2022Herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia showed an increasing incidence during past two decades. Most of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia patients suffered...
BACKGROUND
Herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia showed an increasing incidence during past two decades. Most of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia patients suffered from pain, anxiety, and depression. Fire needle combined with cupping is becoming a popular way to relieve the pain caused by herpes zoster and decrease the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia. In this study, we aim to investigating the efficacy and safety of fire needle combined with cupping for the treatment of acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).
METHODS
The literature search will be carried out in following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database and Wanfang Data. Published and unpublished controlled trials compared fire needle combined with cupping to other treatments for acute herpes zoster or PHN will be included. Data from eligible studies will be extracted by 2 independent reviewers. Different scales will be used to assess the risk of bias based on the study design. Pain intensity and PHN are primary outcomes. The final effect size will be reported using 95% confidence interval at 0.05 significance level.
DISCUSSION
This review will provide certain evidence to compare the efficacy and safety of combined acupuncture and cupping with guideline recommended drug or nerve block therapy for the treatment of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia. It will potentially provide more clinical suggestions and guidelines for health care professionals, policymakers, and researchers.
Topics: Humans; Acupuncture Therapy; Herpes Zoster; Meta-Analysis as Topic; Needles; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Research Design; Systematic Reviews as Topic
PubMed: 36550902
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000032251 -
Mayo Clinic Proceedings Dec 2011To develop electronic algorithms for rapid, automated surveillance for herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) using codified electronic health data. (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
OBJECTIVE
To develop electronic algorithms for rapid, automated surveillance for herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) using codified electronic health data.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We attempted to identify every case of herpes zoster and PHN arising between January 1 and December 31, 2008, within the electronic medical record of a 560,000-patient ambulatory practice using an array of diagnosis codes; intervals between herpes zoster encounters; and prescriptions for analgesics, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. We assessed the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of each screening criterion by medical record review and then integrated multiple criteria into combination algorithms to optimize sensitivity and PPV. We applied the optimized algorithms to the practice's historical data spanning January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2008, to assess for changes in the annual incidence of PHN.
RESULTS
The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code 053 detected herpes zoster with 98% sensitivity and 93% PPV. A combination algorithm including diagnosis codes, visit intervals, and prescriptions detected PHN with 86% sensitivity and 78% PPV. Between 1996 and 2008, the age- and sex-adjusted annual incidence of PHN rose from 0.18 to 0.47 cases per 1000 patients, and the proportion of herpes zoster patients progressing to PHN rose from 5.4% to 17.6%.
CONCLUSION
Novel algorithms incorporating multiple streams of electronic health data can reasonably detect herpes zoster and PHN. These algorithms could facilitate meaningful public health surveillance using electronic health data. The incidence of PHN may be increasing.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Algorithms; Electronic Health Records; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Herpes Zoster; Humans; Incidence; Male; Massachusetts; Middle Aged; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Population Surveillance; Predictive Value of Tests; Reproducibility of Results; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 21997577
DOI: 10.4065/mcp.2011.0305 -
Skin Therapy Letter Jul 2023The lifetime risk for herpes zoster (HZ) of approximately 1 in 3 is increased with advancing age, a family history of HZ, diseases with altered immune function,...
The lifetime risk for herpes zoster (HZ) of approximately 1 in 3 is increased with advancing age, a family history of HZ, diseases with altered immune function, immunosuppression, physical trauma and psychological stress. In dermatology, monotherapy with current biologics does not increase risk, however systemic steroids, Janus kinase inhibitors and combination biologic/conventional disease-modifying antirheumatics do. The recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV, Shingrix®), an adjuvanted non-live subunit vaccine against the glycoprotein E subunit of varicella zoster virus, is approved for prevention of HZ in adults ≥50 years of age, and adults ≥18 years of age who are or will be at increased risk of HZ due to immunodeficiency or immunosuppression due to disease or treatment. It is administered as two 0.5 ml intramuscular injections 2-6 months apart. In immunocompromised individuals, the spacing between injections may be reduced to 1-2 months. Where possible, the first dose should be administered at least 14 days before onset of immunosuppressive treatment. Studies in immunocompetent individuals have shown high efficacy including prevention of HZ, postherpetic neuralgia and other complications, with persistence of effect 10 years after vaccination. The acceptable safety profile and efficacy in five different immunocompromised populations support its use in at-risk adult dermatologic patients.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Dermatology; Herpes Zoster; Herpes Zoster Vaccine; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Herpesvirus 3, Human
PubMed: 37440693
DOI: No ID Found -
Medicine Jun 2023Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), as a new technique, is used to treat a variety of chronic pain syndromes, but it has a high recurrence rate for herpetic neuralgia and is... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), as a new technique, is used to treat a variety of chronic pain syndromes, but it has a high recurrence rate for herpetic neuralgia and is often combined with drugs therapy. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of PRF combined with pregabalin in the treatment of herpetic neuralgia.
METHODS
The electronic databases, including CNKI, Wanfang data, PubMed, Embase, web of science, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to January 31, 2023. The outcomes were pain scores, sleep quality and side effects.
RESULTS
Fifteen studies with 1817 patients were included in this meta-analysis. PRF combined with pregabalin significantly reduced the visual analogue scale/score in patients with postherpetic neuralgia or herpes zoster neuralgia when compared with pregabalin or PRF monotherapy [P < .00001, standardized mean difference (SMD) = -2.01, confidence intervals (CI) = -2.36 to -1.66; P < .00001, SMD = -0.69, CI = -0.77 to -0.61]. Compared with pregabalin monotherapy, PRF combined with pregabalin significantly decreased the pittsburgh sleep quality index score, the dosage and number of days of using pregabalin (P < .00001, SMD = -1.68, CI = -2.19 to -1.17; P < .00001, SMD = -0.94, CI = -1.25 to -0.64; P < .00001, SMD = -1.52, CI = -1.85 to -1.19). However, there was no significant difference in the effect of PRF combined with pregabalin versus PRF alone on pittsburgh sleep quality index score in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (P = .70, SMD = -1.02, CI = -6.11 to 4.07). In addition, PRF combined with pregabalin could significantly decrease the incidence of dizziness, somnolence, ataxia and pain at puncture site when compared with pregabalin monotherapy (P = .0007, odds ratio [OR] = 0.56, CI = 0.40 to 0.78; P = .008, OR = 0.60, CI = 0.41 to 0.88; P = .008, OR = 0.52, CI = 0.32 to 0.84; P = .0007, OR = 12.39, CI = 2.87 to 53.43), but no significant difference was observed when compared with PRF alone.
CONCLUSIONS
PRF combined with pregabalin can effectively alleviate the pain intensity and improve sleep quality in patients with herpetic neuralgia, and the incidence of complications was low, so it was worthy of clinical application.
Topics: Humans; Pregabalin; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment; Neuralgia; Herpes Zoster; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 37335664
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000033932