domingo, 24 de agosto de 2014

Herpes zoster agudo y crónico/Acute and chronic shingles

Consideraciones prácticas del tratamiento farmacológico de la neuralgia postherpética para el médico general


Practical considerations in the pharmacological treatment of postherpetic neuralgia for the primary care provider.
Massengill JS, Kittredge JL.
J Pain Res. 2014 Mar 10;7:125-32. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S57242. eCollection 2014.
Abstract
An estimated one million individuals in the US are diagnosed with herpes zoster (HZ; shingles) each year. Approximately 20% of these patients will develop postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), a complex HZ complication characterized by neuropathic pain isolated to the dermatome that was affected by the HZ virus. PHN is debilitating, altering physical function and quality of life, and commonly affects vulnerable populations, including the elderly and the immunocompromised. Despite the availability of an immunization for HZ prevention and several approved HZ treatments, the incidence of PHN is increasing. Furthermore, management of the neuropathic pain associated with PHN is often suboptimal, and the use of available therapeutics may be complicated by adverse effects and complex, burdensome treatment regimens, as well as by patients' comorbidities and polypharmacy, which may lead to drug-drug interactions. Informed and comprehensive assessments of currently available pharmacological treatment options to achieve effective pain control in the primary care setting are needed. In this article, we discuss the situation in clinical practice, review currently recommended prevention and treatment options for PHN, and outline practical considerations for the management of this neuropathic pain syndrome, with a focus on optimal, individual-based treatment plans for use in the primary care setting.
KEYWORDS:clinical practice; herpes zoster; pharmacological treatment; postherpetic neuralgia; practical guidelines; primary care
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3956687/pdf/jpr-7-125.pdf


Prescripción de antivirales después de herpes zoster en medicina general. ¿Quién recibe tratamiento?


Prescription of antiviral therapy after herpes zoster in general practice: who receives therapy?
Forbes HJ, Thomas SL, Smeeth L, Langan SM.
Br J Gen Pract. 2012 Dec;62(605):e808-14. doi: 10.3399/bjgp12X659277.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Antivirals can accelerate rash healing during an acute zoster episode and can limit the severity and duration of pain. Their use within 7 days of rash onset is recommended among specific patient groups. AIM: To describe antiviral prescription patterns and patient characteristics associated with antiviral receipt after zoster diagnosis. DESIGN AND SETTING:
Descriptive study and risk factor analysis using electronic healthcare records from UK general practice. METHOD: Incident adult zoster cases occurring between 2000 and 2011 were identified in the General Practice Research Database. Therapy records were searched for antiviral prescriptions of aciclovir, famciclovir, or valaciclovir within 7 days of zoster diagnosis. The proportion of incident zostercases receiving antivirals was calculated and multivariable logistic regression used to assess associations between patient characteristics and antiviral use. RESULTS: Of 142 216 incident zoster cases 58.1% received an antiviral prescription. The majority (69.0%) were aciclovir. The proportion receiving antiviral prescriptions increased with age up to 65 years, then declined to 56.8% among patients aged ≥85 years. Being female and of higher socioeconomic status were associated with higher antiviral receipt. Antivirals were more commonly prescribed to immunosuppressed patients withherpes zoster (odds ratio 1.27; 95% CI = 1.22 to 1.33), however they were not given routinely to this patient group. CONCLUSION: Antiviral therapies for zoster are under-prescribed in UK general practice even among groups, such as immunosuppressed and older individuals, for whom guidelines recommend treatment. Patients may present too late to receive treatment or physicians may decide that antivirals are not essential treatment. Consideration could be given to reviewing the guidelines.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3505413/pdf/bjgp62-e808.pdf

Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la neuralgia postherpética

Diagnosing and managing postherpetic neuralgia.
Nalamachu S, Morley-Forster P.
Drugs Aging. 2012 Nov;29(11):863-9. doi: 10.1007/s40266-012-0014-3
Abstract
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) represents a potentially debilitating and often undertreated form of neuropathic pain that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including the elderly and the immunocompromised. Varicella zoster infection is almost universally prevalent, making prevention of acute herpes zoster (AHZ) infection and prompt diagnosis and aggressive management of PHN of critical importance. Despite the recent development of a herpes zoster vaccine, prevention of AHZ is not yet widespread or discussed in PHN treatment guidelines. Diagnosis of PHN requires consideration of recognized PHN signs and known risk factors, including advanced age, severe prodromal pain, severe rash, and AHZ location on the trigeminal dermatomes or brachial plexus. PHN pain is typically localized, unilateral and chronic, but may be constant, intermittent, spontaneous and/or evoked. PHN is likely to interfere with sleep and daily activities. First-line therapies for PHN include tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin and pregabalin, and the lidocaine 5 % patch. Second-line therapies include strong and weak opioids and topical capsaicin cream or 8 % patch. Tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentinoids and strong opioids are effective but are also associated with systemic adverse events that may limit their use in many patients, most notably those with significant medical comorbidities or advanced age. Of the topical therapies, the topical lidocaine 5 % patch has proven more effective than capsaicin cream or 8 % patch and has a more rapid onset of action than the other first-line therapies or capsaicin. Given the low systemic drug exposure, adverse events with topical therapies are generally limited to application-site reactions, which are typically mild and transient with lidocaine 5 % patch, but may involve treatment-limiting discomfort with capsaicin cream or 8 % patch. Based on available clinical data, clinicians should consider administering the herpes zoster vaccine to all patients aged 60 years and older. Clinicians treating patients with PHN may consider a trial of lidocaine 5 % patch monotherapy before resorting to a systemic therapy, or alternatively, may consider administering the lidocaine 5 % patch in combination with a tricyclic antidepressant or a gabapentinoid to provide more rapid analgesic response and lower the dose requirement of systemic therapies.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693437/pdf/40266_2012_Article_14.pdf






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Anestesiología y Medicina del Dolor
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