Articles: neuralgia.
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Multicenter Study
Efficacy and Safety of Pregabalin for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.
Pregabalin is a gamma aminobutyric acid derivative administered for neuropathic pain. It binds to α2δ subunits of voltage-dependent calcium channels, and inhibits calcium inflow of synapses and the release of excitatory neurotransmitters. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. ⋯ If adverse effects are carefully monitored and the administered dosage prudently determined, pregabalin can be an effective treatment for peripheral neuropathic pain in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
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Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a well-established treatment for chronic neuropathic pain in the lower limbs. Upper limb pain comprises a significant proportion of neuropathic pain patients, but is often difficult to target specifically and consistently with paresthesias. We hypothesized that the use of dorsal nerve root stimulation (DNRS), as an option along with SCS, would help us better relieve pain in these patients. ⋯ Treatment with SCS or DNRS provides meaningful long-term relief of chronic neuropathic pain in the upper limbs.
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Central poststroke pain (CPSP) is a severe type of neuropathic pain that can develop after stroke and is difficult to treat. Research into its underlying mechanisms and treatment options could benefit from a valid CPSP animal model. Nine different CPSP animal models have been published, but there are relatively few reports on successful reproductions of these models and so far only little advances in the understanding or the management of CPSP have been made relying on these models. ⋯ We compare the different models regarding these types of validity and discuss the robustness, reproducibility, and problems regarding the design and reporting of the articles establishing these models. We conclude with various proposals on how to improve the validity and reproducibility of CPSP animal models. Until further improvements are achieved, prudence is called for in interpreting results obtained through these models.
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TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1) is a pain signaling channel highly expressed in primary sensory neurons. Attempts for analgesia by systemic TRPV1 blockade produce undesirable side effects, such as hyperthermia and impaired heat pain sensation. One approach for TRPV1 analgesia is to target TRPV1 along the peripheral sensory pathway. ⋯ Selective inhibition of TRPV1 activity in primary sensory neurons by DRG delivery of AAV-encoded analgesic interfering peptide aptamers is efficacious in attenuation of neuropathic pain. With further improvements of vector constructs and in vivo application, this approach might have the potential to develop as an alternative gene therapy strategy to treat chronic pain, especially heat hypersensitivity, without complications due to systemic TRPV1 blockade.
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Neuropathic pain induced by chemotherapy drugs such as oxaliplatin is a dose-limiting side effect in cancer treatment. The mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain are not fully understood. KCNQ2 channels are low-threshold voltage-gated K+ channels that play a role in controlling neuronal excitability. ⋯ Immunostaining is also performed in brainstem and shows strong KCNQ2 immunoreactivity at the trigeminal afferent central terminals innervating the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vc) in controls, but the KCNQ2 immunoreactivity intensity is significantly reduced in oxaliplatin-treated animals. We further show with the operant behavioral test that oxaliplatin-induced orofacial mechanical allodynia can be alleviated by the KCNQ2 potentiator retigabine. Taken together, these findings suggest that KCNQ2 downregulation may be a cause of oxaliplatin-induced orofacial neuropathic pain and KCNQ2 potentiators may be useful for alleviating the neuropathic pain.