Herpes zoster in older adults.

Incidence, risk factors and prevention of herpes zoster: review article

Herpes zoster (Shingles; Zona) is an acute infectious skin disease that is caused by the reactivation of varicella zoster virus (VZV). After the initial infection (chickenpox) or vaccination, the virus remains inactive or latent in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG); when decreasing cell mediated immunity (CMI) occurs, the virus is reactivated from a latent phase to a lytic phase and frequently repl...

A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in older adults.

BACKGROUND The incidence and severity of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia increase with age in association with a progressive decline in cell-mediated immunity to varicella-zoster virus (VZV). We tested the hypothesis that vaccination against VZV would decrease the incidence, severity, or both of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia among older adults. METHODS We enrolled 38,546 a...

Immunogenicity and Safety of an Adjuvanted Herpes Zoster Subunit Vaccine in Older Adults Previously Vaccinated with a Live-Attenuated Herpes Zoster Vaccine: A Phase III, Group-Matched, Clinical Trial

[Herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in the elderly: Particularities in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment].

Herpes zoster (HZ) results from the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus latent in the sensory ganglia when cell-mediated immunity is altered. It is a frequent condition in older adults, leading to undesirable adverse outcomes. Aging is its main risk factor and the elderly may have different clinical presentations: zoster sine herpete, and a higher incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia (15...

Efficacy of an adjuvanted herpes zoster subunit vaccine in older adults.

BACKGROUND In previous phase 1-2 clinical trials involving older adults, a subunit vaccine containing varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E and the AS01B adjuvant system (called HZ/su) had a clinically acceptable safety profile and elicited a robust immune response. METHODS We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study in 18 countries to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HZ/s...

Managing herpes zoster in older adults: Prescribing considerations.

NPs must be aware of special prescribing considerations for medication safety when managing the care of older adults with herpes zoster. Age-related physiologic changes of the body impact the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antiviral and pain medications and can lead to potential adverse events.