title: The prognosis with postherpetic neuralgia.
abstract: One hundred and fifty-six patients with moderate to severe postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) were followed for up to 11 years. Nearly half of all patients were doing well at the final assessment (median 2 years) and more than half of these were on no therapy at this time. The most commonly used agents associated with a good outcome were antidepressants, topical capsaicin and analgesics of various kinds. Longer duration PHN appeared to have a worse prognosis. More of these patients were noted to be using some form of treatment at follow up. A group of patients seemed to follow a progressive course and were refractory to all treatments used in this study.
authors.affiliation: Irene Eleanor Smythe Pain Clinic, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.Canada, Clinical Research Support Group, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.Canada Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont.Canada.
authors.forename: Peter N C
authors.initials: PNC
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Verna R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chipman
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birkett
authors.forename: Ramon J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents