Effect of extracts from rabbit skin inflamed by vaccinia virus in the management of postherpetic neuralgia and on serum interleukin-6 level in aged patients.
- Author:
Xiao-mei YANG
1
;
Rong-guo HE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Analgesics; therapeutic use; Animals; Female; Humans; Inflammation; virology; Interleukin-6; blood; Male; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Middle Aged; Neuralgia, Postherpetic; drug therapy; Pain Measurement; Rabbits; virology; Skin; virology; Vaccinia virus
- From: Journal of Southern Medical University 2007;27(12):1941-1943
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of the extracts from rabbit skin inflamed by vaccinia virus for injection, a commercially available agent (Analgecine), in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in aged patients and its influence on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) level.
METHODSA total of 44 elderly patients with PHN were randomly divided into two groups. In addition to the conventional antiviral therapy, patients in group A were given analgecine, and those in group B given indomethacin tablet. After the completion of the 14-day treatment course, the therapeutic effects were evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS), and the changes in serum IL-6 levels after treatment were measured.
RESULTSThe score of VAS decreased significantly after treatment in group A (P<0.01), but not in group B (P>0.05). In both groups, the serum IL-6 level before treatment was significantly higher than that in normal control subjects (P<0.001), and lowered significantly after treatment (P<0.01) in group A, but not in group B (P>0.05).
CONCLUSIONThe extracts from rabbit skin inflamed by vaccinia virus have definite effects for rapid pain relief, and can effectively decrease the serum IL-6 level in elderly patients with PHN.
