The role of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia

Christopher L. Wu; Ann Marsh; Robert H. Dworkin

doi:10.1016/S0304-3959(00)00230-X

The role of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia

Christopher L. Wu, Ann Marsh, Robert H. Dworkin

School of Medicine

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

128 Scopus citations

Abstract

The most common complication of herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Sympathetic blocks have been traditionally used for patients with herpes zoster and PHN with three different therapeutic goals: pain relief during acute herpes zoster, pain relief during PHN, and prevention of PHN by treating patients with acute zoster. The role of sympathetic blocks in herpes zoster and PHN remains controversial due to methodologic shortcomings in published studies and the limited current understanding of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mediating pain. Current theories of the pathophysiology of PHN, the role of the sympathetic nervous system in herpes zoster and PHN, and published studies investigating use of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and PHN are reviewed. (C) 2000 International Association for the Study of Pain.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	121-129
Number of pages	9
Journal	Pain
Volume	87
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(00)00230-X
State	Published - Aug 1 2000

Keywords

Herpes zoster
Nerve block
Pain
Postherpetic neuralgia
Sympathetic nerves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neurology
Clinical Neurology
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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10.1016/S0304-3959(00)00230-X

Cite this

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title = "The role of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia",

abstract = "The most common complication of herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Sympathetic blocks have been traditionally used for patients with herpes zoster and PHN with three different therapeutic goals: pain relief during acute herpes zoster, pain relief during PHN, and prevention of PHN by treating patients with acute zoster. The role of sympathetic blocks in herpes zoster and PHN remains controversial due to methodologic shortcomings in published studies and the limited current understanding of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mediating pain. Current theories of the pathophysiology of PHN, the role of the sympathetic nervous system in herpes zoster and PHN, and published studies investigating use of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and PHN are reviewed. (C) 2000 International Association for the Study of Pain.",

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AU - Marsh, Ann

AU - Dworkin, Robert H.

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N2 - The most common complication of herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Sympathetic blocks have been traditionally used for patients with herpes zoster and PHN with three different therapeutic goals: pain relief during acute herpes zoster, pain relief during PHN, and prevention of PHN by treating patients with acute zoster. The role of sympathetic blocks in herpes zoster and PHN remains controversial due to methodologic shortcomings in published studies and the limited current understanding of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mediating pain. Current theories of the pathophysiology of PHN, the role of the sympathetic nervous system in herpes zoster and PHN, and published studies investigating use of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and PHN are reviewed. (C) 2000 International Association for the Study of Pain.

AB - The most common complication of herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients is postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). Sympathetic blocks have been traditionally used for patients with herpes zoster and PHN with three different therapeutic goals: pain relief during acute herpes zoster, pain relief during PHN, and prevention of PHN by treating patients with acute zoster. The role of sympathetic blocks in herpes zoster and PHN remains controversial due to methodologic shortcomings in published studies and the limited current understanding of the role of the sympathetic nervous system in mediating pain. Current theories of the pathophysiology of PHN, the role of the sympathetic nervous system in herpes zoster and PHN, and published studies investigating use of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and PHN are reviewed. (C) 2000 International Association for the Study of Pain.

KW - Herpes zoster

KW - Nerve block

KW - Pain

KW - Postherpetic neuralgia

KW - Sympathetic nerves

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The role of sympathetic nerve blocks in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia

Abstract

Keywords

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