Efficacy Of Paravertebral Nerve Block With Interferon α-2b To Prevent Postherpetic Neuralgia

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of paraspinal nerve blocking with interferon α-2b and the preventive efficacy of postherpetic neuralgia when treating acute herpes zoster.Methods:The 60 cases of herpes zoster were divided into interferon α-2b group(group 1) and control group(group 2) randomly and averagely. The only difference between group 1 and2 is whether to use the interferon α-2b. We treat the patients once every three days, and up to five times. For each patient, before and after treatment(1 week later, 2 week later, 4week later), we measure the T lymphocyte subsets and Ig G level in peripheral blood, and we record VAS pain score and sleep quality score as well. Then we calculate the incidence of post herpetic neuralgia 4 weeks later and 12 weeks later. At last, the patients make self-evaluation about the efficacy and we collect the treatment times.Results:After treatment, the pain relief of group 1 is more effective than group 2(P <0.001).The quality of sleep are improved in both groups(P <0.001), and the difference between two groups is not statistically significant(P = 0.282). The patients in group 1 have fewer therapy times( Z=-6.825, P<0.001) and feel better than patients in group 2 after treatment(χ2=6.125,P<0.05).The incidence of postherpetic neuralgia in group 1 is lower than that in group 2, when post treatment 4 weeks later and 12 week later(P <0.05).When compared with pretherapy, the levels of CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 and Ig G in both groups are increased, the CD8 level and VAS score are reduced. In addition, there is an obvious difference between group 1 and group 2(P<0.05).Conclusion:Paraspinal nerve block with interferon α-2b can treat herpes zoster patients, prevent the postherpetic neuralgia and this method is safe and reliable. After the treatmentcan, the immune function of the patients can improve effectively, which may be one of the mechanism for the prevention of herpes zoster neuralgia.