Pain
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of a combination of alpha-lipoic acid and pregabalin for neuropathic pain: the PAIN-CARE trial.
We compared a combination of the nonsedating antioxidant, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), with the sedating anticonvulsant, pregabalin, vs each monotherapy to treat neuropathic pain due to peripheral neuropathies. In this randomized, double-blind, 3-period crossover trial, participants received oral ALA, pregabalin, and their combination-each for 6 weeks. The primary outcome was mean daily pain intensity at maximal tolerated doses (MTD); secondary outcomes included quality of life (SF-36), sleep (Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale), adverse effects, drug doses, and other measures. ⋯ SF-36 total scores (higher number indicates better quality of life) were 66.6 (1.88), 70.1 (1.88), and 69.4 (1.87) with ALA, pregabalin, and combination ( P < 0.05 for ALA vs combination and pregabalin). At MTD, there were no statistically significant treatment differences in adverse effects or drug doses. This trial demonstrates superiority of pregabalin vs ALA but provides no evidence to suggest added benefit of combining ALA with pregabalin to treat neuropathic pain.
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Meta Analysis
Overview of the economic burden of musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Studies suggest a high economic burden among children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain. There is no summary in the literature on the overall economic burden of musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents. The aim of this systematic review of cost-of-illness studies was to synthesize the economic burden of musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents. ⋯ Nine studies estimated the annual societal costs that ranged from $1095 to $69,351 per patient. Children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and musculoskeletal pain had higher annual incremental healthcare costs than those without these conditions (mean difference: $3800 higher, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 50-7550; mean difference: $740 higher, 95% CI: 470-1,010, respectively). In conclusion, the estimated annual economic burden of children and adolescents with musculoskeletal pain ranged from $124 to $69,351.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia in patients with Alzheimer disease and healthy participants.
The role of placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) is largely unknown, with only few studies in the area. Therefore, this study aims to investigate to which extent placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia effects are present in patients experiencing mild-to-moderate AD. Twenty-one patients with AD (test population) and 26 healthy participants (HP; design validation) were exposed to thermal pain stimulation on 3 test days: Lidocaine condition (open/hidden lidocaine administration), capsaicin condition (open/hidden capsaicin administration), and natural history (no treatment), in a randomized, within-subject design. ⋯ With a well-controlled experimental setting, this study suggests that patients with AD may not experience placebo analgesia effects. Nocebo hyperalgesia effects in patients with AD needs further research. These findings may have implications for the conduction of clinical trials and the treatment of patients with AD in clinical practice.