title: Treatment of acute herpes zoster: effect of early (< 48 h) versus late (48-72 h) therapy with acyclovir and valaciclovir on prolonged pain.
abstract: The efficacy of early versus late treatment with acyclovir and valaciclovir on zoster-associated pain was assessed from two databases (1076 patients) that were compiled from randomized trials. Early treatment was started < 48 h and late treatment was started 48-72 h after the onset of cutaneous herpes zoster. Median times to complete resolution of zoster-associated pain were 28 and 62 days, respectively, for patients (> or = 18 years of age) treated with acyclovir and placebo within 48 h (hazard ratio [HR], 1.68; 95% confidence limit [95% CL], 1.19, 2.38) and 28 and 58 days, respectively, for those treated later (HR, 2.20; 95% CL, 1.03, 4.71). In the valaciclovir versus acyclovir study (in patients > or = 50 years of age), the corresponding figures were 44 and 51 days for patients treated early (HR, 1.28; 95% CL, 1.03, 1.60) and 36 and 48 days for those treated later (HR, 1.40; 95% CL, 1.04, 1.87). Acyclovir significantly shortened the time to complete resolution of zoster-associated pain compared with placebo (and valaciclovir was superior to acyclovir in this regard) even when therapy was delayed up to 72 h after rash onset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom. m.j.wood@hbham.ac.uk
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Fiddian
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Crooks
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir