Pain and its persistence in herpes zoster.
The nature and duration of pain associated with herpes zoster is highly variable. This review of research on pain in acute herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) explores those observations relevant to the definition and pathogenesis of PHN and the design of treatment trials. A model for the pathogenesis of PHN is presented, which gains support from studies of risk factors. Several directions for future research are identified.
Dworkin
R H
RH
Department of Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Portenoy
R K
RK
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*