Amyloid : the international journal of experimental and clinical investigation : the official journal of the International Society of Amyloidosis
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Although spinal cord stimulation has been reported to be effective for controlling neuropathic pain in diabetic neuropathy, it has rarely been investigated in other peripheral neuropathies. We describe, for the first time, the efficacy of spinal cord stimulation for refractory neuropathic pain in a patient with transthyretin Val30Met associated familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP ATTR Val30Met). ⋯ Because conventional symptomatic therapies, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiepileptic drugs, and tricyclic antidepressants did not ameliorate pain, he underwent bilateral lumbar spinal cord electrical stimulation at high frequency and low voltage at the level of Th12 vertebral body and this was markedly effective. Our case expands the application of spinal cord stimulation, which should be considered as an alternative therapeutic approach for relief of neuropathic pain, which can be extremely distressful for patients and may lead to an impaired quality of life.