• Kosmas I Paraskevas, Alexandra A Michaloglou, Despina D Briana, and Maria Samara.
• Department of Vascular Surgery, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
• Clin. Rheumatol. 2006 Sep 1;25(5):687-93.

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of guanethidine and lidocaine in the treatment of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) type I of the hand. Seventeen patients, aged between 33 and 72 years, suffering from CRPS type I of the hand received two series of intravenous regional sympathetic block (Bier's block) sessions with guanethidine and lidocaine according to the following therapeutic protocol: (1) 5 sessions (once every second day) composed of intravenous regional administration of 15 mg guanethidine and 1 mg lidocaine/kg body weight each and (2) 20 sessions (twice a week) composed of intravenous regional administration of 10 mg guanethidine and 1 mg lidocaine/kg body weight each. Complete disappearance of pain and return of the normal function and movement of the extremity were achieved. No side effects were observed. The above-described therapeutic protocol method resulted in excellent pain relief and full restoration of both function and range of movement of the affected extremity in 17 patients suffering from CRPS type I of the hand.

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