Famciclovir and Postherpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Ken L. Bassett, Carolyn J. Green, James M. Wright
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Letters2 November 1999Famciclovir and Postherpetic NeuralgiaKen L. Bassett, MD, PhD, Carolyn J. Green, MSc, and James M. Wright, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)Ken L. Bassett, MD, PhDUniversity of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Bassett)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Green)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Wright)Search for more papers by this author, Carolyn J. Green, MScUniversity of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Bassett)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Green)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Wright)Search for more papers by this author, and James M. Wright, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Bassett)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Green)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Wright)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-131-9-199911020-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:While appraising a study by Tyring and colleagues (1), we were struck, as we assume were most readers, by the authors' substantive efficacy claim: “The median times to resolution of postherpetic neuralgia were 63 days for the 500-mg famciclovir group, 61 days for the 750-mg famciclovir group, and 119 days for the placebo group.” However, before we accept this secondary end point as evidence that famciclovir provides clinically significant benefit to patients with herpes zoster, several important issues must be addressed.The authors need to explain the higher percentage of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in the ...References1. Tyring S, Barbarash RA, Nahlik JE, Cunningham A, Marley J, Heng M, et al . Famciclovir for the treatment of acute herpes zoster: effects on acute disease and postherpetic neuralgia. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1995;123:89-96. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Dworkin RH, Carrington D, Cunningham A, Kost RG, Levin MJ, McKendrick MW, et al . Assessment of pain in herpes zoster: lessons learned from antiviral trials. Antiviral Res. 1997;33:73-85. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Bassett K, Green C, Wright JM. A systematic review and critical appraisal of famciclovir treatment of herpes zoster. British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment. 1998;98:11J. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Bassett)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Green)University of British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z3, Canada (Wright) PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoFamciclovir for the Treatment of Acute Herpes Zoster: Effects on Acute Disease and Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial Stephen Tyring , Rick A. Barbarash , James E. Nahlik , Anthony Cunningham , John Marley , Madalene Heng , Terry Jones , Ted Rea , Ron Boon , Robin Saltzman , and Famciclovir and Postherpetic Neuralgia Stephen Tyring , Robin L. Saltzman , and Robert Dworkin Metrics 2 November 1999Volume 131, Issue 9Page: 712KeywordsAge groupsClinical trial reportingDrugsIntent to treat analysis Issue Published: 2 November 1999 CopyrightCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...