title: The change in zoster-associated pain treated with oral valaciclovir in immunocompetent patients with acute herpes zoster.
abstract: We have analysed zoster-associated pain treated with valaciclovir (VCV) in immunocompetent patients with acute herpes zoster over 6 months, and evaluated the safety of VCV. We know of no reports that evaluate postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) treated with VCV for 6 months. Predisposing factors that influence PHN were age (over 60 years), clustered vesicles, severity of eruption, sleep disturbance, and hypesthesia. Timing of the administration of VCV before or after the onset of rash did not influence the incidence of PHN. No serious adverse reactions were observed during the administration of VCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan. kuroichi@clin.medic.mie-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumano
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D014633:Valine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D014633:Valine; D000077483:Valacyclovir; D000212:Acyclovir