Prevention strategies for herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia.

Abstract

Impairment of varicella zoster virus (VZV)-specific cell-mediated immunity, including impairment due to immunosenescence, is associated with an increased risk of developing herpes zoster (HZ), whereas levels of anti-VZV antibodies do not correlate with HZ risk. This crucial role of VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity suggests that boosting these responses by vaccination will be an effective strategy for reducing the burden of HZ. Other strategies focus on preventing the major complication of HZ--post-herpetic neuralgia. These strategies include pre-emptive treatment with drugs such as tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants and analgesics.

• Authors: Myron J Levin, Anne A Gershon, Robert H Dworkin, Marc Brisson, Lawrence Stanberry
• Journal: Journal of clinical virology : the official publication of the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology (J Clin Virol) Vol. 48 Suppl 1 Pg. S14-9 (May 2010) ISSN: 1873-5967 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20510262 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Review)
• Copyright: 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Anticonvulsants
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
• Antiviral Agents
• Herpes Zoster Vaccine

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Analgesics (therapeutic use)
• Anticonvulsants (therapeutic use)
• Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (therapeutic use)
• Antiviral Agents (therapeutic use)
• Herpes Zoster (complications, immunology, prevention & control)
• Herpes Zoster Vaccine (administration & dosage, immunology)
• Herpesvirus 3, Human (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular (immunology)
• Incidence
• Middle Aged
• Neuralgia, Postherpetic (drug therapy, immunology, prevention & control)
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Treatment Outcome
• Vaccination