title: Role of impaired glucose metabolism in the postherpetic neuralgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is one of the most common and debilitating sequela of herpes zoster. The etiology of PHN is not completely understood. Several studies showed that diabetes mellitus may increase the risk of infectious diseases, including herpes zoster. Instead, the relationship between PHN and prediabetes has never been described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate glucose metabolism abnormalities in patients with PHN.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 87 consecutive patients with PHN and normal fasting glycemia and 108 pain-free controls. In both groups we evaluated glucose and insulin levels after a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test and insulin resistance. In addition, in all patients we performed skin thoracic biopsy to exclude a small fiber neuropathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, the prevalence of glucose metabolism abnormalities was significantly higher in patients than in controls (P<0.001): impaired glucose tolerance was found in 36 (38%) patients and in 16 (15%) controls, whereas a newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus was found in 9 (9%) patients and in 6 (5%) controls. The insulin resistance showed no significant differences between patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that PHN may be a marker for impaired glucose tolerance. A glucose tolerance test should be considered in patients presenting with PHN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, S. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, Crotone, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plastino
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Bartolo
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cristiano
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ettore
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zurlo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosco
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colica
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tallarigo
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fava
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D044882:Glucose Metabolism Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051474:Neuralgia, Postherpetic / Q000150:complications*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin