Clinical study of valacyclovir combined with pregabalin in treatment of acute herpes zoster pain in elderly patients
Xie Xinyang
Huang Lan
Chu Xiaoyan
Lu Lei
Chen Weikai
Abstract：Objective To investigate the efficacy of valacyclovir combined with pregabalin in the treatment of acute herpes zoster pain in the elderly patients.Methods A total of 98 elderly patients with acute herpes zoster pain admitted to Nanjing Cen-tral Hospital from March 2022 to March 2023 were selected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method.The 49 patients in the control group were only given pregabalin and other 49 in the study group were given valaciclovir combined with pregabalin.The results of electromyography,sleep,pain degree and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Furthermore,the levels of serum neurokinin-1(NK-1),substance P,β-Endorphins and inflammatory factors were de-tected.Results After treatment,the motor conduction velocity(MCV),sensory conduction velocity(SCV),amplitude(AMP)and β-endorphins in the control group and the study group were(47.14±3.11)m·s-1,(48.09±1.78)m·s-1,(6.73±2.21)m·s-1,(13.32±2.83)pg·mL-1,(55.85±2.92)m·s-1,(54.96±1.64)m·s-1,(9.96±2.17)m·s-1,(20.67±3.46)pg·mL-1,which were higher than those before treatment((39.02±2.26)m·s-1,(37.11±1.96)m·s-1,(4.54±1.48)m·s-1,(8.96±2.54)pg·mL-1,(38.43±2.31)m·s-1,(36.73±2.02)m·s-1,(4.81±1.54)m·s-1,(9.32±2.63)pg·mL-1).Meanwhile,the indicators were higher in the study group than in the control group(all P<0.05).The distal motor latency(DML),NK-1,substance P,Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI),visual analogue score(VAS),interleukin(IL)-6,IL-10,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in the control group and the study group were(4.76±1.03)m·s-1,(3.54±0.53)pg·mL-1,(5.86±1.03)pg·mL-1,(12.12±1.43)scores,(5.21±1.04)scores,(416.31±30.76)ng·L-1,(17.11±3.54)pg·mL-1,(8.71±2.73)pg·mL-1,(2.82±0.89)m·s-1,(2.32±0.26)pg·mL-1,(3.52±0.84)pg·mL-1,(10.21±1.05)scores,(4.34±0.72)scores,(343.29±27.52)ng·L-1,(13.29±3.02)pg·mL-1,(5.43±1.44)pg·mL-1 after treatment,which were lower than those before treatment((6.19±1.18)m·s-1,(14.78±2.62)pg·mL-1,(8.43±1.35)pg·mL-1,(15.21±1.69)scores,(7.05±1.21)scores,(497.43±33.75)ng·L-1,(25.54±6.48)pg·mL-1,(15.64±4.01)mg·L-1,(5.96±1.21)m·s-1,(14.59±2.81)pg·mL-1,(8.61±1.28)pg·mL-1,(15.09±1.75)scores,(6.89±1.43)scores,(488.72±44.19)ng·L-1,(26.13±5.94)pg·mL-1,(16.18±3.72)mg·L-1),and the indicators were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group(all P<0.05).The total incidence of adverse reactions was 12.24%(6/49)in the study group and 8.16%(4/49)in the control group,showing no statistically significant difference between the two groups(χ²=0.445,P>0.05).Conclusion Valacyclovir combined with pregabalin is effective in the treatment of elderly patients with acute herpes zoster pain because it can relieve pain,improve sleep and electromyography and regulate serum NK-1,substance P,β-endorphin levels and in-flammatory factors.Meanwhile,there is no significant increase in incidence of adverse reactions.
Keywords：ValaciclovirPregabalinElderlyHerpes zosterAcute stagePain
Publication Date：2025-09-25
Online Publishing Date：2025-10-10(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 977-981 )