Analysis of the Risk Factors for Mechanical Allodynia in Herpetic Neuralgia: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic, Clinical Characteristics of Patients with Torso Herpetic Neuralgia

	AHN (N=46)		SHN (N=64)		PHN (N=276)
	T2-5 (N=8)	T6-11 (N=38)	T2-5 (N=9)	T6-11 (N=55)	T2-5 (N=81)	T6-11 (N=195)
Age (Years, Mean, SD)	62.9 (4.2)	63.0 (7.1)	58.0 (6.9)	63.5 (6.9)	65.3 (6.7)	63.6 (6.7)
Female /male	3/5	19/ 19	4/5	33/22	39/42	101/94
Primary or higher education (N, %)	8 (100.0)	38 (100.0)	9 (100.0)	54 (98.2)	79 (97.5)	192 (98.5)
Duration of pain (m, Mean, SD)	0.8 (0.2)	0.6 (0.3)	2.8 (0.7)	3.0 (0.8)	14.4 (5.7)	13.9 (5.7)
Pain scores (NRS, Mean, SD)	6.6 (1.1)	6.2 (1.1)	6.7 (1.2)	5.9 (1.2)	5.8 (1.0)	5.8 (1.1)
Pain area (unit, Mean, SD)	1.7 (0.6)	1.8 (0.6)	1.4 (0.6)	1.7 (0.5)	1.3 (0.5)	1.5 (0.4)
Allodynia (N, %)	4 (50.0)	13 (34.2)	4 (44.4)	14 (25.5)	35 (43.2)	93 (47.7)
Allodynia area (unit, Mean, SD)	0.3 (0.1)	0.5 (0.2)	0.5 (0.2)	0.5 (0.3)	0.4 (0.2)	0.4 (0.2)
Scarred skin (N, %)	4 (50.0)	22 (57.9)	1 (11.1)	30 (54.5)	25 (30.9)	66 (33.8)

Notes: Data were expressed as mean ± SD and number. One unit of the pain area was defined as the whole palm region of the right hand.

Abbreviations: AHN, acute herpetic neuralgia; SHN, subacute herpetic neuralgia; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia; NRS, pain intensity numerical rating scale.

Figure 1 Flow chart of the study.

Table 2 Comparison of the Allodynia and Sticky Feeling for Patients with Torso Herpetic Neuralgia

Number of Cases (Female /Male)	T2-5		T6-11
	Allodynia	Other Pains	Allodynia	Other Pains
AHN (N=46)	2 / 2	2 / 2	3 / 10	16 / 9
With positive cotton swab test	0 / 0	0 / 0	1 / 0	0 / 0
Feeling sticky or sweating	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0
With positive iodine starch test	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0	0 / 0
With local scars	1 / 0	1 / 2	0 / 0	14 / 8
SHN (N=64)	2 / 2	3 / 2	8 / 6	25 /16
With positive cotton swab test	2 / 1	0 / 0	8/ 5	0 / 0
Feeling sticky or sweating	2 / 1	0 / 0	8 / 4	1 / 0
With positive iodine starch test	2 / 0	0 / 0	2 / 0	0 / 0
With local scars	0 / 0	0 / 1	2 / 2	16 / 10
PHN (N=276)	20 / 15	19 / 27	48 / 45	53 / 49
With positive cotton swab test	19 / 13	0 / 0	46 / 43	0 / 0
Feeling sticky or sweating	18 / 13	5 / 3	32 / 32	8 / 4
With positive iodine starch test	10 / 5	2 / 2	8 / 5	0 / 0
With local scars	12 / 4	7 / 2	5 / 3	39 / 19

Abbreviations: AHN, acute herpetic neuralgia; SHN, subacute herpetic neuralgia; PHN, postherpetic neuralgia.

Figure 2 Parametric estimated value based on the collected data for binary logistic regression analyses.

Abbreviations: OR, Odd Ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.