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Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) following acute herpes zoster remains a significant cause of neuropathic pain, especially in older patients. Treatment results of this severe and long-lasting pain syndrome are often disappointing. To examine the effect of antivirals, and other potential risk factors, on PHN risk among zoster patients, researchers used prospectively collected data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a U.K. general practice database. The study cohort included patients with first-ever zoster, followed to determine who developed PHN.
Of 144,959 patients with zoster diagnosed between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2011, 119,413 (60% female; median age, 61) were eligible for inclusion. Of these, 6956 (5.8%) developed PHN.…