Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral Injection of Platelet-Rich Plasma for the Treatment of Thoracic Herpes Zoster-Related Pain: A Study Protocol

Abstract Background Herpes zoster (HZ), triggered by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, manifests as a painful rash known as zoster-associated pain (ZAP), which can progress to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral injections of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in managing acute ZAP and preventing PHN. Methods This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, endpoint-blinded, single-center trial involving 128 participants suffering from zoster-associated pain. Participants will be randomly assigned to the PRP treatment in combination with antiviral therapy group or the antiviral therapy group at a 1:1 ratio. Pain intensity (NRS-11), quality of life (SF-12), sleep quality (PSQI), pain characteristics, skin lesion recovery, average weekly consumption of rescue analgesics, and adverse events will be assessed. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention to evaluate the incidence rate of PHN, pain intensity, quality of life, sleep quality, and safety. Ethics and Dissemination Adhering to the 2013 SPIRIT statement and the Declaration of Helsinki, this study has received ethical approval from the relevant committee. Results will be disseminated through scientific journals and conferences, contributing to global data on managing ZAP. Conclusions By comparing PRP with antiviral therapy, this trial seeks to establish a more effective treatment paradigm for reducing acute zoster-associated pain and the incidence of PHN, potentially setting a new standard in therapeutic strategies for HZ. Trial Registration This clinical trial is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) at https://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html (Registration Number: ChiCTR2400087248, Registration Date: 2024–07-23).