Esketamine Combined With PRF of DRG for Acute/Subacute Zoster-associated Pain

Launched by BEIJING TIANTAN HOSPITAL · Mar 31, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at a new way to help people who have pain from shingles, also known as herpes zoster. The study will evaluate the effects and safety of a combination treatment using esketamine, a medication that can help reduce pain, along with a specific procedure called pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) targeting the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which is a cluster of nerve cells near the spine. The goal is to see how well this combined approach works in reducing pain within one month compared to standard treatment.

To participate in this trial, you must be over 18 years old and have had shingles rash for less than 90 days, with pain rated at least a 4 on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain). You would also need to be scheduled for the PRF treatment. However, the trial is not open to everyone; those with certain health conditions, like severe sleep apnea or serious heart or liver problems, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, cannot participate. If you join, you can expect to undergo the treatment and be monitored for any changes in your pain and overall health during the study period.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Ages more than 18 years;
• • 2. Patients with onset of herpes zoster (HZ) rash less than 90 days;
• • 3. HZ affected the spinal nerves (cervical/thoracic/lumbar nerve);
• • 4. Having an average pain score of at least 4 on a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS, 0 = no pain, 10= worst possible pain)；
• • 5. Planned to perform CT-guided PRF treatment of the dorsal root ganglion(DRG).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome;
• • 2. Those who receive other more invasive treatments, such as radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of DRG.
• • 3. A history of systemic immune diseases, organ transplantation, or cancers;
• • 4. A history of severe cardiopulmonary, hepatic, renal dysfunction or coagulation function disorder;
• • 5. A history of schizophrenia, epilepsy, or myasthenia gravis, delirium;
• • 6. Comorbid hyperthyroidism or phaeochromocytoma;
• • 7. Recent history of drug abuse;
• • 8. Having contraindications to esketamine;
• • 9. Communication difficulties.
• • 10. Women who are preparing for pregnancy, in the pregnancy or lactation period.