• U Guzelkucuk, I Duman, B Yılmaz, and A K Tan.
• Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Turkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey. druguzelkucuk@yahoo.com
• Spinal Cord. 2012 Jun 1;50(6):472-3.

Study DesignCase report.ObjectivesTo report a case of paraplegia with limb edema caused by pregabalin.SettingTurkish Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center, Ankara, Turkey.Case ReportA 40-year-old male patient with T11 paraplegia had the complaint of swelling in both the lower limbs. He had been given pregabalin because of the neuropathic pain in both the lower limbs. At 10 months, the patient has experienced edema in lower limbs. There was severe edema in both legs, ankles and feet, more evident on the left. Venous Doppler ultrasound was normal on both sides. Blood tests for possible etiologies were normal. No other etiology could be found. The edema was considered to be caused by pregabalin and the medicine was ceased gradually. The edema resolved completely in 2 weeks.ConclusionPregabalin, which is one of medications used for neuropathic pain, might cause limb edema, that is, a condition needs differential diagnosis. This is particularly important for patients with spinal cord injuries (SCIs). Such adverse effect of pregabalin should be kept in mind as an etiology of limb edema in SCI management.

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