Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN )NCT07565844
Intradermal Exosomes, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Steroids for Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
A study testing Exosomes, PRP and Corticosteroids in people with Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN ), run by Zagazig University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled clinical trial will evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of exosomes, platelet-rich plasma, and corticosteroid in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN )
- What is being tested?
- Exosomes, PRP and Corticosteroids
- Type of treatment
- Injection or infusion
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 2 Feb 2025to 11 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients with post-herpes zoster persistent dermatomal pain consistent with post-herpetic neuralgia for at least 90 days.
- Male or female patients. Age 18 years or older. Willingness to comply with study procedures and attend follow-up visits. Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Who cannot join
- History of hypersensitivity to any of the study treatments. Pregnancy. Any type of skin infection involving the affected dermatome. Immunocompromised patients, including patients with cancer or HIV. Patients with bone marrow aplasia. Patients with known bleeding tendency, platelet dysfunction, or thrombocytopenia, defined as platelet count less than 150 × 10⁹/L.
- Regular use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Egypt1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Zagazig University Hospitals
Zagazig, Zagazig, 44519
mona Elradi, 01067070550, monaelradi@medicine.zu.edu.eg
About this study
Official title: A Comparative Study of Intradermal Injection of Exosomes, Platelet-Rich Plasma and Steroids in the Treatment of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
This randomized controlled clinical trial will evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of exosomes, platelet-rich plasma, and corticosteroid in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. Forty-five adult patients with dermatomal pain persisting for at least 90 days after herpes zoster will be enrolled from outpatient clinics. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups: intradermal exosome injection, intradermal autologous platelet-rich plasma injection, or intradermal triamcinolone acetonide injection. Each group will receive four treatment sessions every two weeks. Outcomes will include pain severity, neuropathic pain characteristics, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and adverse effects, assessed at baseline, at the final session, and during follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months after the last session.
- Conditions
- Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN )
- Being tested
- Exosomes, PRP, Corticosteroids
- Medical subject headings
- Neuralgia, Postherpetic
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ExosomesBiological
Intradermal injection of 0.1 cc exosome product per 1 cm² square into the affected dermatome, every two weeks for four sessions.
PRPBiological
Autologous platelet-rich plasma prepared from 10 mL patient blood by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes, injected intradermally at 0.1 cc per 1 cm² square every two weeks for four sessions.
CorticosteroidsDrug
Intradermal triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/mL, 0.1 mL per 1 cm² square of the affected dermatome, every two weeks for four sessions
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Exosomes | Experimental | Participants will receive intradermal injections of exosome product into the affected dermatome. The dermatome will be marked and divided into 1 cm² squares, and 0.1 cc will be injected intradermally into each square using an insulin syringe. Treatment will be given every two weeks for a total of four sessions, followed by visits at 3 and 6 months after the last session. Receives: Biological: Exosomes |
| PRP | Experimental | Participants will receive intradermal injections of autologous platelet-rich plasma into the affected dermatome. Ten mL of blood will be collected under aseptic conditions and centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes. The lower 1-2 cc of plasma will be used as platelet-rich plasma concentrate. The affected dermatome will be marked into 1 cm² squares, and 0.1 cc PRP will be injected intradermally into each square. Treatment will be given every two weeks for four sessions, followed by visits at 3 and 6 months after the last session. Receives: Biological: PRP |
| Corticosteroids | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Drug: Corticosteroids |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Pain Severity Using the Visual Analog Scale
Measured: Baseline and final treatment session, approximately 6 weeks after baseline
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in Neuropathic Pain Scale Score
Measured: Baseline, final treatment session, 3 months after last session, and 6 months after last session
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 May 2026
- Study start2 Feb 2025
- Primary completion6 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion11 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN )Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Zagazig UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be assigned to one of three parallel groups: intradermal exosome injection, intradermal autologous platelet-rich plasma injection, or intradermal triamcinolone acetonide injection.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Zagazig University
- Sponsor type
- Other government
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mona El Radi Kamal Mohamed Emam, Zagazig University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07565844
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 984/5-1-2025
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 27 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 4 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Comparative Study of Intradermal Injection of Exosomes, Platelet-Rich Plasma and Steroids in the Treatment of Post-Herpetic Neuralgia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07565844
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 984/5-1-2025
- Conditions
- Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN )
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Zagazig UniversityOther government
- Study start
- 2 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 Aug 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 11 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled clinical trial will evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of intradermal injection of exosomes, platelet-rich plasma, and corticosteroid in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia. Forty-five adult patients with dermatomal pain persisting for at least 90 days after herpes zoster will be enrolled from outpatient clinics. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups: intradermal exosome injection, intradermal autologous platelet-rich plasma injection, or intradermal triamcinolone acetonide injection. Each group will receive four treatment sessions every two weeks. Outcomes will include pain severity, neuropathic pain characteristics, quality of life, patient satisfaction, and adverse effects, assessed at baseline, at the final session, and during follow-up visits at 3 and 6 months after the last session.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Participants will be assigned to one of three parallel groups: intradermal exosome injection, intradermal autologous platelet-rich plasma injection, or intradermal triamcinolone acetonide injection.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Exosomes | Experimental | Biological: ExosomesParticipants will receive intradermal injections of exosome product into the affected dermatome. The dermatome will be marked and divided into 1 cm² squares, and 0.1 cc will be injected intradermally into each square using an insulin syringe. Treatment will be given every two weeks for a total of four sessions, followed by visits at 3 and 6 months after the last session. |
| PRP | Experimental | Biological: PRPParticipants will receive intradermal injections of autologous platelet-rich plasma into the affected dermatome. Ten mL of blood will be collected under aseptic conditions and centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes. The lower 1-2 cc of plasma will be used as platelet-rich plasma concentrate. The affected dermatome will be marked into 1 cm² squares, and 0.1 cc PRP will be injected intradermally into each square. Treatment will be given every two weeks for four sessions, followed by visits at 3 and 6 months after the last session. |
| Corticosteroids | Active comparator | Drug: Corticosteroids |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patients with post-herpes zoster persistent dermatomal pain consistent with post-herpetic neuralgia for at least 90 days.
- Male or female patients. Age 18 years or older. Willingness to comply with study procedures and attend follow-up visits. Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- History of hypersensitivity to any of the study treatments. Pregnancy. Any type of skin infection involving the affected dermatome. Immunocompromised patients, including patients with cancer or HIV. Patients with bone marrow aplasia. Patients with known bleeding tendency, platelet dysfunction, or thrombocytopenia, defined as platelet count less than 150 × 10⁹/L.
- Regular use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ExosomesIntradermal injection of 0.1 cc exosome product per 1 cm² square into the affected dermatome, every two weeks for four sessions. | Biological | Exosomes |
| PRPAutologous platelet-rich plasma prepared from 10 mL patient blood by centrifugation at 1000 rpm for 10 minutes, injected intradermally at 0.1 cc per 1 cm² square every two weeks for four sessions. | Biological | PRP |
| CorticosteroidsIntradermal triamcinolone acetonide 10 mg/mL, 0.1 mL per 1 cm² square of the affected dermatome, every two weeks for four sessions | Drug | Corticosteroids |
Primary outcome
Change in Pain Severity Using the Visual Analog Scale
Time frame: Baseline and final treatment session, approximately 6 weeks after baseline
1 secondary outcome
Change in Neuropathic Pain Scale Score
Time frame: Baseline, final treatment session, 3 months after last session, and 6 months after last session
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Obesity and Obesity-Related Factors and Risk of Herpes Zoster (Shingles) and Postherpetic Neuralgia
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exosomes, PRP and Corticosteroids in people with Postherpetic Neuralgia ( PHN ), run by Zagazig University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact mona Elradi (+201067070550, monaelradi@medicine.zu.edu.eg), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Pain Severity Using the Visual Analog Scale (time frame: Baseline and final treatment session, approximately 6 weeks after baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 May 2026.