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Evidence summaries

Vaccination for Preventing Postherpetic Neuralgia

There is insufficient direct evidence from specialised trials to prove the efficacy of vaccine for preventing postherpetic neuralgia beyond its effect on reducing herpes zoster, although vaccination is efficacious and safe for preventing herpes zoster and thus reduce the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in adults aged 60 years or older. Level of evidence: "D"

Summary

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 1 study with a total of 38 546 subjects. Participants were all aged 60 years or more and most of them were white. The vaccine was effective in decreasing the incidence of herpes zoster, but it was not statistically significantly effective in reducing the incidence of postherpetic neuralgia beyond its effect on the incidence of herpes zoster. Adverse events at the injection site were more common among vaccine recipients than placebo recipients, but they were mild and resolved in a few days. Serious adverse events were rare.

Vaccination compared with placebo for preventing postherpetic neuralgia

OutcomesNumber of participants (studies)Assumed risk (control)Corresponding risk (vaccination)Relative effect RR (95% CI)
Persistence of PHN among all subjects a numerical rating scale for pain. Follow-up: mean 3.13 years38501 (1 study)3 per 10001 per 1000 (1 to 2)RR 0.31 (0.18 to 0.54)
Persistence of PHN among subjects developing herpes zoster a numerical rating scale for pain. Follow-up: mean 3.13 years957 (1 study)84 per 100054 per 1000 (32 to 92)RR 0.64 (0.38 to 1.09)
Deaths among all subjects during the whole study clinical follow-up Follow-up: mean 3.13 years38546 (1 study)41 per 100041 per 1000 (37 to 45)RR 1.00 (0.91 to 1.1)

Clinical comments

Note

Date of latest search: 2011-03-16

    References

    • Chen N, Li Q, Zhang Y et al. Vaccination for preventing postherpetic neuralgia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(3):CD007795. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords