Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40153743›Full record

ArticleMedicine2025

Subcutaneous acupuncture improves acyclovir-ineffective cephalofacial herpes zoster: A case report.

Zhenzhen Wang, Zhenming Zeng, Xiahai Zheng, Haiwei Gao, Haoxiong Chen, Yujia Chen

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zhenzhen WangGuangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.ORCID 0009-0007-8302-0523
Zhenming ZengThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Xiahai ZhengThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Haiwei GaoThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Haoxiong ChenThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Yujia ChenThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.

Funding

The innovation fund of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine 2020055
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleHerpes zoster is a common skin disease that manifests as clustered herpes, postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), and other herpes zoster-related complications, as well as eye diseases and various visceral diseases. Pharmaceutical therapy may cause adverse responses and has limited efficacy. Therefore, exploring alternative and effective therapies is important for clinical physicians. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient was a 62-year-old female. She suffered from clustered herpes in her left forehead and head, which caused severe pain. The patient had received pharmaceutical therapy but did not respond to it. DIAGNOSES: Cephalofacial herpes zoster.

interventionsThe patient underwent a 1-week course (4 sessions) of subcutaneous acupuncture. The treatment involved fire acupuncture (swift pricking) and common acupuncture (transverse insertion), both of which were performed on the superficial skin layer. OUTCOMES: After the 4 treatment sessions, the patient's herpes disappeared quickly, and the pain was relieved. After the 12-month follow-up, the patient had no PHN. LESSONS: Subcutaneous acupuncture improved the skin lesions condition of herpes zoster rapidly, and relieved the neuralgia effectively. It may prevent the PHN. For patients who are nonresponsive to antiviral medications, especially the elderly population at a high risk of developing PHN, subcutaneous acupuncture (fire acupuncture + common acupuncture) can be considered.

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyAcyclovirHerpes ZosterAntiviral AgentsFemaleHumansMiddle AgedNeuralgia, PostherpeticAcyclovirAntiviral Agents

Identifiers

PMID40153743
PMCPMC11957639

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.