Management of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia now and in the future.
Herpes zoster (HZ; shingles)--a reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV)--can cause significant morbidity. Its major complication is pain, particularly post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). We will review the current management strategies available for the treatment of both acute HZ and PHN, including antiviral drugs, analgesic agents, anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants and topical therapies. New molecules in development that show improved activity against VZV are also covered, and new drug targets are outlined. The role of translational neuroscience in moving towards a goal of finding disease-modifying treatments will be examined.
University of Alabama at Birmingham, CHB 303, 1600-Seventh Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. rwhitley@peds.uab.edu
Richard J
RJ
Whitley
Antonio
A
Volpi
Mike
M
McKendrick
Albert van
Av
Wijck
Anne Louise
AL
Oaklander
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D000998:Antiviral Agents