Clinical efficacy of drugs combined with hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia and its effect on the expression of brain-derive neurotrophic factor

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of drugs combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia and its effect on the expression of brain-derive neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Methods One hundred patients with postherpetic neuralgia who were treated in the hospital from January 2015 to June 2018 were selected as the research subjects, and were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, each consisting of 50 patients. The control group was treated with carbamazepine tablets in addition to routine treatment, while the observation group was supplemented with HBO in addition to the treatment received by the control group. Then, the scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) and patients' global impression of change (PGIC), the expression level of BDNF and rate of adverse reactions at admission and 3 months after treatment were compared between the patients of the 2 groups. Results After 3 courses of treatment, the VAS scores in the patients of the 2 groups all decreased significantly, with the scores of the observation group all being lower than those of the control group, and statistical significance could be noted when comparisons were made between the 2 groups (P 0.05). Conclusion Carbamazepine tablets combined with HBO could effectively improve clinical symptoms, decrease the seriousness of pain, increase BDNF level and enhance treatment efficacy. For this reason, it was worth further clinical promotion. Key words: Carbamazepine; Hyperbaric oxygen(HBO); Postherpetic neuralgia(PHN); Brain-derive neurotrophic factor; Clinical efficacy