title: [Limited possibilities for the evidence-based treatment and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia].
abstract: Postherpetic neuralgia is a disorder that occurs frequently in the elderly. As the effect of the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia is often disappointing, studies have focussed on the prevention of this complaint. A commonly used preventive intervention is the administration ofa single epidural injection of a local anaesthetic and a corticosteroid, combined with oral antiviral agents and analgesics. In a large, multicentre, randomised controlled trial, the investigators found that the single injection of a corticosteroid and a local anaesthetic had no added value in the prevention of long-term postherpetic neuralgia.
authors.affiliation: VU Medisch Centrum, afd. Anesthesiologie, Postbus 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam. wwa.zuurmond@vumc.nl
authors.forename: W W A
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Zuurmond
authors.forename: R S G M
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D005938:Glucocorticoids