title: Acute pain in herpes zoster: the famciclovir database project.
abstract: The results of a considerable number of recent prospective studies have demonstrated that greater acute pain severity in herpes zoster patients is associated with a significantly greater risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Only a few studies have examined the relationships between acute pain severity and demographic characteristics and clinical features of patients with herpes zoster, however, and the results of these studies have been inconsistent. To clarify these relationships, data from 1778 herpes zoster patients studied within 72 h of rash onset in four clinical trials of the antiviral agent famciclovir were examined. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that greater acute pain severity was significantly associated with greater age, female sex, greater rash severity, the presence of a prodrome, and primary involvement of non-trigeminal dermatomes. These results demonstrate that three of the established risk factors for PHN - older age, greater rash severity, and the presence of a prodrome - are also associated with more severe acute pain assessed soon after rash onset in patients with herpes zoster. The results of this study are consistent with the recommendation that herpes zoster patients who are older, who have had a prodrome, or who have severe rash or severe acute pain should be targeted for interventions designed to prevent PHN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 604, Rochester, NY 14642, USA Department of Anesthesiology, University of Bristol and Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol, UK SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Harlow, Essex, UK.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Dworkin
authors.forename: Elna M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Nagasako
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: David R J
authors.initials: DRJ
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000077595:Famciclovir; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D000077595:Famciclovir