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  • The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology
  • Volume 11
  • Number 2

Original Article

Pregabalin In The Treatment Of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: Theoretical Assumptions And Clinical Practice

A Cinetto, E Ferrulli, G Venier

Keywords

chronic pain, peripheral neuropathic pain, pregabalin

Citation

A Cinetto, E Ferrulli, G Venier. Pregabalin In The Treatment Of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: Theoretical Assumptions And Clinical Practice. The Internet Journal of Anesthesiology. 2006 Volume 11 Number 2.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to verify the effectiveness and safety of Pregabalin in the treatment of chronic peripheral neuropathic not oncological pain. 33 patients aged 58 ± 13 have been studied with average age of 58 years. The therapy effectiveness was evaluated with VAS scales and Karnofsky performance status index at the beginning, at the end of therapy and at 2 months after drug suspension. It was used at a dosage of 150-600 mg/die according to the response and collateral effects. 36% (C.I. 22% - 53%) of the patients have abandoned the therapy for collateral effects. The pain relief is turned out statistically significant both at the end of the therapy and in the follow up. Conclusions: Pregabalin turns out effective in the treatment of the neuropathic pain with stabilized effects. The treatment is burdened by a high incidence of collateral effects (36% (22%-53%)) and consequent abandonment of the therapy.

 

Introduction

Neuropathic pain originates from a dysfunction or a damage of the central or peripheral nervous system1,2. According to the site of the lesion in the nervous system the neuropathic pain can be classified as central or periferic2. Clinically neuropathic pain is characterized as chronic course, is described by the patients as lancinating, burning, accompanied by smart, electric shock, pins and needles and paresthesia2,4. Pain can be spontaneous or provoked, with evocation of allodynia and/or hyperalgesia. Neuropathic pain can be serious and invalidating; it may and compromise the life quality with interference on the sleep and humor3. Peripheral neuropathic pain includes diabetic neuropathy, trigeminal neuralgia, post-herpetic neuralgia, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, post laminectomy syndrome, post-entrapment syndrome, ghost limb syndrome, radiculitis and entrapment neuropathies. Pregabalin (the S-3-aminometil-5acido-metilesanoic) has anticonvulsive and analgesic activity; studies in vitro and experimental models show that pregabalin is a selective binder with high affinity11to voltage dependent calcium channels X receptors α 2 - δ in the SNC5,6,8; such connection reduces the depolarization induced from the income of calcium and diminishes the release of neurotransmitters (noradrenalin, glutamate, substance-P) in the hyper excited neurons5,6,12,13. Pregabalin prevents the reactions to pain in neuropathic pain animal models, even in allodynia and hyperalgesia7,8. Pregabalin is indicated in the treatment of peripheral neurophatic pain.

Aim Of The Study

The aim of the study is the evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of Pregabalin for treatment of chronic peripheral neuropathic not oncological pain in adults.

Materials And Methods

Criteria of inclusion: aged between 18 and 80 years, presence of not oncologic peripheral neuropathic pain. Criteria of exclusion: hypersensitivity versus Pregabalin, pregnancy, renal insufficiency, alcohol poisoning, use of psychotropic drugs, use of drugs commonly used in the neuropathic pain (antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, gabapentin, tricyclics, etc.). All patients were informed and signed per consensus as italian legislative dispositions prescribed. The basal evaluation card compilation has taken in consideration: patient's age, pathology and type of pain, symptoms and signs of peripheral neurosuffering at the beginning and at the end of therapy cycle with the Pregabalin, the analgesic therapy at the beginning of the study, the VAS (Visual Analogue Scales) 9 and Karnofsky Performance Status 9 at the beginning of the therapy, at the term of 12th week of therapy and 2 months from the suspension of the drug. The selected patients were submitted to a cycle of therapy with Pregabalin at a flexible dosage of 150-600 mg/die in two every day administrations; such posologic regimen has turned out to be more favourable at fixed dose in terms of tolerability and individual answer 4. We started with 150 mg/die and we increased the dosage up to 300-600 mg/die weekly based on the therapeutic answer and collateral effects; the therapeutic dosage was continued for 12 weeks; it was moreover made a control at a distance of 2 months from the drug administration term. The design of the study is represented in fig. 1.

Figure 1
Figure 1

Results

The studied population was of 33 patients, 60.6% (n=20) of feminine sex, 39.4% (n=13) male; the average age is of 58,87 years with standard deviation of 13,83, median of 64 and mode of 69; range of age from 27 years to 76 (Tab1).

Figure 2
Table 1

64% of the patients (n=21) recruited have finished the study protocol, while 36% (n=12) (C.I. 22% - 53%) have interrupted the assumption of the Pregabalin. The subclass of pathologies with peripheral neuropathic pathology treated have been: lower back pain (n=10), diabetic neuropathy (n=2), vertebral cervical pain (n=2), vertebral crack (n=2), ghost limb syndrome (n=1), coccyx pain (n=1), post-herpetic neuralgia (n=1), trigeminal neuralgia (n=1) and anal pain (n=1). Because the distribution of the values of VAS and Karnofski performance status (KPF) wasn't normal, we have used non parametric tests for the statistical analysis: Wilcoxon rank test and the sign test (Tab 2, 3, 4, 5).

Figure 3
Table 2

Figure 4
Table 3

Figure 5
Table 4

Figure 6
Table 5

They show a significant decrease of the pain and improvement of the life quality after therapy and in the follow up. Collateral effects were registered in 36% (22%-53%) of the cases: the most common were confusion (n=3), sleepiness (n=3), epigastralgia (n=2), vertigos, arterial hypertension, headache and generalized oedema (n=1 for each type).

Conclusions

Pregabalin statistically turned out to be effective in peripheral neuropathic not oncological pain treatment, in terms of diminishing pain and in terms of life quality. Two patients haven't had any clinical benefit, while 4 patients had benefit from the treatment but, at the 2 months from the suspension of the drug control, clinical condition was the same as at the beginning of therapy. 42% (24%-62%) of the studied population had clinical benefit at the dosage of 150 mg/die, 24% (11%-45%) at 300 mg/die and 34% (18%-55%) at the maximum dosage of 600 mg/die. Therefore in 68% (47%-84%) of the patients it wasn't necessary to reach the maximum dosage, with consequent better compliance and tolerability. A high percentage of collateral effects was registered (36% (22%-53%) of the population), which induced drug suspension. The most frequent collateral effects were confusion and drowsiness.

Correspondence to

G. B. Venier, E. mail: gbvenier@asl14chioggia.veneto.it tel. 0415534338, Fax 0415534394.

References

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13. Maneuf Y.P., Hughes J., McKnight A.T.: Gabapentin inhibits the substance P facilitated K-evoked release of glutamate from rat caudal trigeminal nucleus slices. Pain, 2001; 93: 191-6.

Author Information

A. Cinetto, M.D.
Department of Critical Care, O.U. Anaesthesiology and Critical Care

E. Ferrulli, M.D.
Department of Critical Care, O.U. Anaesthesiology and Critical Care

G. B. Venier, M.D.
Director, Department of Critical Care, O.U. Anaesthesiology and Critical Care

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