title: [Clinical trial of recombinant alpha-2a interferon in the treatment of herpes zoster].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A clinical trial on 74 patients with herpes zoster was conducted to observe the efficacy and side effects of recombinant alpha-2a interferon.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were divided into two groups, including forty-four patients in interferon-treated group and 30 patients in controlled group. The interferon-treated group was treated with i.m. recombinant alpha-2a-interferon in a daily dose of one million unit for 6 days. The controlled group was treated with vitamin B12 and vitamin B1 in conventional dose for 6 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The duration of scarring, pain relieving, cure and course of disease in interferon-treated group was significantly shorter than that in controlled group (P < 0.01). There was no postherpetic neuralgia in interferon-treated group and there were postherpetic neuralgia in 9 cases of controlled group (P > 0.05). Side effects were mild in interferon-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that recombinant alpha-2a-interferon may be recommended as a good medicine for herpes zoster.
authors.affiliation: PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins