The effects of epidural blockade on the acute pain in herpes zoster.
Arch Dermatol
; 135(11): 1359-64, 1999 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10566834
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the relief of acute pain and possible preventive effects on postherpetic neuralgia through the use of an epidural blockade in the acute stage of herpes zoster.DESIGN:
Prospective, nonrandomized, comparative clinical trial.SETTING:
A dermatologic clinic in a university hospital. PATIENTS Sixty-five consecutive patients with pain due to acute herpes zoster were treated for a 7-day hospitalization period from July 1, 1996, through June 30, 1997. INTERVENTION The consecutive patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of 30 patients who were seen from July 1, 1996, through December 31, 1996, and who were treated with intravenous acyclovir (5 mg/kg) for 7 days. Group B consisted of 35 patients who were seen from January 1, 1997, through June 30, 1997, and who were treated with intravenous acyclovir (5 mg/kg) and an epidural blockade for 7 days. The changes in the intensity of pain and the total duration of pain in both groups were assessed for 12 to 18 months. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
The number of days required for relief of pain and the total duration of pain.RESULTS:
The mean +/- SD number of days required for relief of pain, which was rated on a scale of 100 (worst pain) to 0 (no pain), was significantly fewer in group B than in group A it took 2.6 +/- 1.1 days to go from 100 to 50 on the relief-of-pain scale in group B, but 3.8 +/- 1.1 days in group A (P = .03), and 12.5 +/- 6.4 days to go from 100 to 10 in group B, but 20.1 +/- 14.6 days in group A (P = .04). The duration of late residual pain was significantly shorter in group B (5.9 +/- 5.8 days) than in group A (11.9 +/- 7.5 days) (P = .03). The total duration of pain was also significantly shorter in group B (18.5 +/- 9.3 days) than in group A (31.6 +/- 17.6 days) (P = .04).CONCLUSIONS:
We believe that an epidural blockade combined with an antiviral agent is a very effective treatment modality for the pain of acute herpes zoster, and we recommend its use for the prevention of postherpetic neuralgia, with a view to shortening the total duration of pain, especially late residual pain.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Analgesia Epidural
/
Herpes Zóster
/
Bloqueo Nervioso
/
Neuralgia
Tipo de estudio:
Clinical_trials
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Arch Dermatol
Año:
1999
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Corea del Sur