Pain Research and Management (Jan 2009)

Herpes Zoster and Postherpetic Neuralgia: Past, Present and Future

  • Gary J Bennett,
  • C Peter N Watson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2009/380384
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 4
pp. 275 – 282

Abstract

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OBJECTIVES: The history behind the current understanding of the varicella-zoster virus and its relationship to the pain conditions caused by shingles and postherpetic neuralgia are reviewed. The framework for the current conceptualization is Hope-Simpson’s latency hypothesis. Data from recent work in virology, neuroanatomy and epidemiology are reviewed, as is work using varicella-zoster virus-infected animals. The recent data largely confirm Hope-Simpson’s hypothesis and extend it significantly.