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PRF plus PRP improves pain, sleep quality, quality of life, and inflammation more than PRF alone or PRF plus ozone in postherpetic neuralgia patients at 90 days

In a single-center RCT of 122 adults aged 50-70 with single-segment PHN lasting >3 months, PRF plus PRP showed significantly greater improvement at 90 days compared to PRF alone and PRF plus ozone. VAS reduction was -2.49 (95% CI, -2.88 to -2.10) vs PRF alone and -1.43 (-1.80 to -1.05) vs PRF plus ozone; PSQI improved by -5.72 (-7.09 to -4.36) and -4.77 (-6.09 to -3.44), respectively; all adjusted P values <0.001.

Last updated: Jul 28, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. CT-Guided Dorsal Root Ganglion Pulsed Radiofrequency Alone, with Ozone, or with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

observational

Cao K, Wu J, Zhang J · Journal of pain research (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 90 days
Intervention: CT-guided dorsal root ganglion pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) plus platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection
Outcome: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)
Effect Size: Mean difference in VAS -2.49 (95% CI, -2.88 to -2.10) for PRF+PRP vs PRF alone; PSQI mean difference -5.72 (-7.09 to -4.36)
Population: Adults aged 50-70 years with single-segment postherpetic neuralgia lasting >3 months

Result:

PubMed: 42502491DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S605629

Mechanism Graph

PRF modulates dorsal root ganglion activity
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PRP provides growth factors and anti-inflammatory cytokines
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Combined effect reduces neuropathic pain and inflammation
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Result: greater multidimensional improvement in pain, sleep, quality of life, and NLR

Limitations

  • ⚠Single-center design limits generalizability
  • ⚠Results require validation in larger, well-designed multicenter randomized trials
  • ⚠Complete-case/per-protocol analysis may introduce bias if dropouts were not random

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?▼

PRF plus PRP was more effective than PRF alone or PRF plus ozone for improving pain, sleep quality, quality of life, and inflammation in postherpetic neuralgia patients at 90 days.

How many participants were in the study?▼

122 participants completed the trial: 38 in PRF alone, 43 in PRF plus ozone, and 41 in PRF plus PRP.

What outcomes were measured?▼

Pain (VAS), sleep quality (PSQI), quality of life (SF-12), and inflammation (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) were assessed at baseline and 30, 60, and 90 days.

Are there any safety concerns with PRP?▼

No PRP-related complications were observed in this study.

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References

  1. 1.Cao K, Wu J, Zhang J. "CT-Guided Dorsal Root Ganglion Pulsed Radiofrequency Alone, with Ozone, or with Platelet-Rich Plasma for Postherpetic Neuralgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.." Journal of pain research, 2026. PMID: 42502491 DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S605629
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.