[Effect of extracts from rabbit skin inflamed by vaccinia virus in the management of postherpetic neuralgia and on serum interleukin-6 level in aged patients].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of the extracts from rabbit skin inflamed by vaccinia virus for injection, a commercially available agent (Analgecine), in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in aged patients and its influence on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level.


METHODS
A total of 44 elderly patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups. In addition to the conventional antiviral therapy, patients in group A were given analgecine, and those in group B given indomethacin tablet. After the completion of the 14-day treatment course, the therapeutic effects were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the changes in serum IL-6 levels after treatment were measured.


RESULTS
The score of VAS decreased significantly after treatment in group A (P<0.01), but not in group B (P>0.05). In both groups, the serum IL-6 level before treatment was significantly higher than that in normal control subjects (P<0.001), and lowered significantly after treatment (P<0.01) in group A, but not in group B (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The extracts from rabbit skin inflamed by vaccinia virus have definite effects for rapid pain relief, and can effectively decrease the serum IL-6 level in elderly patients with PHN.
Yang
Xiao-mei
XM
Department of Dermatology, Shijing People's Hospital of Baiyun District, Guangzhou 510430, China. yxm_dd@126.com
He
Rong-guo
RG
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000821:virology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011817:Rabbits / Q000821:virology; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology; D014616:Vaccinia virus
D000700:Analgesics; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6