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Journal ArticleDOI

Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

TL;DR: The results support a revision of the NeuPSIG recommendations for the pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain and allow a strong recommendation for use and proposal as first-line treatment in neuropathicPain for tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, pregabalin, and gabapentin.
Abstract: Summary Background New drug treatments, clinical trials, and standards of quality for assessment of evidence justify an update of evidence-based recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and E valuation (GRADE), we revised the Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain (NeuPSIG) recommendations for the pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain based on the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Between April, 2013, and January, 2014, NeuPSIG of the International Association for the Study of Pain did a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised, double-blind studies of oral and topical pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain, including studies published in peer-reviewed journals since January , 1966, and unpublished trials retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov and websites of pharmaceutical companies. We used number needed to treat (NNT) for 50% pain relief as a primary measure and assessed publication bias; NNT was calculated with the fi xed-eff ects Mantel-Haenszel method. Findings 229 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Analysis of publication bias suggested a 10% overstatement of treatment eff ects. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals reported greater eff ects than did unpublished studies (r² 9·3%, p=0·009). T rial outcomes were generally modest: in particular, combined NNTs were 6·4 (95% CI 5·2–8·4) for serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, mainly including duloxetine (nine of 14 studies); 7·7 (6·5–9·4) for pregabalin; 7·2 (5·9–9·21) for gabapentin, including gabapentin extended release and enacarbil; and 10·6 (7·4–19·0) for capsaicin high-concentration patches. NNTs were lower for tricyclic antidepressants, strong opioids, tramadol, and botulinum toxin A, and undetermined for lidocaine patches. Based on GRADE, fi nal quality of evidence was moderate or high for all treatments apart from lidocaine patches; tolerability and safety, and values and preferences were higher for topical drugs; and cost was lower for tricyclic antidepressants and tramadol. These fi ndings permitted a strong recommendation for use and proposal as fi rst-line treatment in neuropathic pain for tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, pregabalin, and gabapentin; a weak recommendation for use and proposal as second line for lidocaine patches, capsaicin high-concentration patches, and tramadol; and a weak recommendation for use and proposal as third line for strong opioids and botulinum toxin A. Topical agents and botulinum toxin A are recommended for peripheral neuropathic pain only. Interpretation Our results support a revision of the NeuPSIG recommendations for the pharmacotherapy of neuropathic pain. Inadequate response to drug treatments constitutes a substantial unmet need in patients with neuropathic pain. Modest effi cacy, large placebo responses, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria, and poor phenotypic profi ling probably account for moderate trial outcomes and should be taken into account in future studies. Funding NeuPSIG of the International Association for the Study of Pain.

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Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Treatment-related sequelae in CRC survivors are common and attention needs to be focused on identifying patients with unmet treatment needs and the development evidence-based treatment algorithms.
Abstract: Colorectal cancer survivors are one of the most rapidly growing groups of patients living with and beyond cancer. In a national multidisciplinary setting, we have examined the extent of late treatment‐related sequelae in colorectal cancer survivors and present the scientific evidence for management of these conditions in this patient category with the aim of facilitating identification and treatment.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the effect of tDCS on the cerebral cortex, thalamus, midbrain, and medulla were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence.
Abstract: Objective Neuropathic pain is a common complication after spinal cord injury (SCI). Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been confirmed to be effective in relieving neuropathic pain in patients with SCI. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of tDCS on neuropathic pain induced by SCI and its underlying mechanism. Materials and methods The SCI model was induced by a clip-compression injury and tDCS stimulation was performed for two courses (5 days/each). The motor function was evaluated by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score, and the thermal withdrawal threshold was evaluated by the thermal radiation method. The effects of tDCS on the cerebral cortex, thalamus, midbrain, and medulla were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence. Results The results showed that SCI reduced the thermal withdrawal threshold and increased the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in the cortex, thalamus, midbrain, and medulla, including the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). In addition, the activation of microglia and the proportion of M1 phenotypic polarization increased significantly in the ventral posterolateral (VPL), ventral tegmental (VTA), and periaqueductal gray (PAG) regions after SCI. After tDCS treatment, the thermal withdrawal threshold and motor function of SCI rats were significantly improved compared to the vehicle group. Meanwhile, tDCS effectively reduced the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the cortex, thalamus, midbrain, and medulla and increased the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the thalamus. In addition, tDCS reduced the proportion of the M1 phenotype of microglia in VPL, VTA, and PAG regions and increase the proportion of the M2 phenotype. Conclusion The results suggest that tDCS can effectively relieve SCI-induced neuropathic pain. Its mechanism may be related to regulating the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in corresponding brain regions via promoting the phenotypic transformation of microglia.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article , the authors synthesise evidence and guidance from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, American Academy of Neurology, American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Canada, German Diabetes Association and International Diabetes Federation into a practical guide to the treatment of PDPN and highlight the need for future research into mechanistic-based treatments in order to prioritise the development of personalised medicine.
Abstract: Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN) is present in nearly a quarter of people with diabetes. It is estimated to affect over 100 million people worldwide. PDPN is associated with impaired daily functioning, depression, sleep disturbance, financial instability, and a decreased quality of life. Despite its high prevalence and significant health burden, it remains an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. PDPN is a complex pain phenomenon with the experience of pain associated with and exacerbated by poor sleep and low mood. A holistic approach to patient-centred care alongside the pharmacological therapy is required to maximise benefit. A key treatment challenge is managing patient expectation, as a good outcome from treatment is defined as a reduction in pain of 30-50%, with a complete pain-free outcome being rare. The future for the treatment of PDPN holds promise, despite a 20-year void in the licensing of new analgesic agents for neuropathic pain. There are over 50 new molecular entities reaching clinical development and several demonstrating benefit in early-stage clinical trials. We review the current approaches to its diagnosis, the tools, and questionnaires available to clinicians, international guidance on PDPN management, and existing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment options. We synthesise evidence and the guidance from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, American Academy of Neurology, American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Canada, German Diabetes Association, and the International Diabetes Federation into a practical guide to the treatment of PDPN and highlight the need for future research into mechanistic-based treatments in order to prioritise the development of personalised medicine.

1 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2022
TL;DR: A review of the clinical patterns, diagnostic paradigms, etiopathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies of autoimmune neuropathies such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy, immunoglobulin M paraproteinemic neuropathy and nodopathies can be found in this article .
Abstract: The autoimmune neuropathies represent an important category of the peripheral neuropathies. We need to recognize the potential implications of autoimmune neurology—a new subspecialty in neurology that has truly launched. We review the clinical patterns, diagnostic paradigms, etiopathogenesis, and therapeutic strategies of autoimmune neuropathies such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, multifocal motor neuropathy, immunoglobulin M paraproteinemic neuropathy, nodopathies, as well as immune neuropathies associated with other systemic immune disorders. Making a diagnosis can be challenging and first assisted by electrophysiologic and sometimes pathologic sampling, with autoimmune biomarkers providing increased assistance. The importance of autoimmune neuropathies cannot be overstated as many of the disorders are treatable and reversible. In this chapter, we provide an overview of how the field developed and describe some of the ongoing challenges.

1 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Eine zunehmende Forschung zur Lebensqualität zeigt jedoch eine deutliche Beeinträchtigung durch moderate Schmerzen, u.a. bei Psoriasis vulgaris et arthropathica.
Abstract: Zusammenfassung Eine Pravalenzrate von 23 Millionen Deutschen mit chronischen Schmerzen ist anzunehmen. In einer aktuellen Erhebung waren 30 % der chronischen Schmerzpatienten mit ihrer Schmerztherapie nicht zufrieden. Des Weiteren leiden funf Millionen Deutsche an neuropathischen Schmerzen, wovon 20 % nicht ausreichend therapiert sind. Schmerz ist auch ein Symptom vieler dermatologischer Krankheitsbilder. Die zumeist somatischen Schmerzen sind vielfach als milde Schmerzen einzustufen. Eine zunehmende Forschung zur Lebensqualitat zeigt jedoch eine deutliche Beeintrachtigung der Lebensqualitat durch moderate Schmerzen, u.a. bei Psoriasis vulgaris et arthropathica. Starke Schmerzen treten bei Herpes zoster, Ulcus cruris und Pyoderma gangraenosum auf. Als Grundlagen werden Schmerzklassifikation und im kurzen Exzerpt Schmerzleitung und -modulation dargestellt. Der Einsatz standardisierter Skalen zur Erhebung und Verlaufsbeobachtung der Schmerzstarke wird empfohlen, um Therapieoptimierungen zu gewahrleisten und interdisziplinar auf gleicher Basis zu kommunizieren. Die Weiterbildung in der Dermatologie sieht den Erwerb von Kenntnissen, Erfahrungen und Fertigkeiten in der allgemeinen Schmerztherapie vor. Bezogen darauf werden grundlegende Behandlungskonzepte in Anlehnung an das erweiterte WHO-Schema, ein stufenweises Vorgehen sowie Kombinationstherapien dargestellt. Der Fokus dieser Arbeit liegt auf der Schmerztherapie o. g. konservativ zu behandelnder stark schmerzhafter Dermatosen. Neben gangigen Therapeutika und aktuellen Therapiestandards werden, soweit vorhanden, leitlinienbasiert spezifische Optionen erortert. Der Wissensstand zum peri- und postoperativen Schmerzmanagement wird kurz umrissen. Dieser Artikel vermittelt: ▸ Grundlagen zur Klassifikation und Neurophysiologie von Schmerzen, ▸ Standards fur die Schmerzdokumentation bei Kindern und Erwachsenen, ▸ allgemeine Standards fur eine medikamentose Schmerztherapie, ▸ aktuelle spezifische Therapieoptionen fur Zosterneuralgie, Ulcus cruris, Pyoderma gangraenosum im Zusammenhang mit dem erweiterten WHO-Schema.

1 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Moher et al. as mentioned in this paper introduce PRISMA, an update of the QUOROM guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which is used in this paper.
Abstract: David Moher and colleagues introduce PRISMA, an update of the QUOROM guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses

62,157 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: The QUOROM Statement (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analyses) as mentioned in this paper was developed to address the suboptimal reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Abstract: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have become increasingly important in health care. Clinicians read them to keep up to date with their field,1,2 and they are often used as a starting point for developing clinical practice guidelines. Granting agencies may require a systematic review to ensure there is justification for further research,3 and some health care journals are moving in this direction.4 As with all research, the value of a systematic review depends on what was done, what was found, and the clarity of reporting. As with other publications, the reporting quality of systematic reviews varies, limiting readers' ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of those reviews. Several early studies evaluated the quality of review reports. In 1987, Mulrow examined 50 review articles published in 4 leading medical journals in 1985 and 1986 and found that none met all 8 explicit scientific criteria, such as a quality assessment of included studies.5 In 1987, Sacks and colleagues6 evaluated the adequacy of reporting of 83 meta-analyses on 23 characteristics in 6 domains. Reporting was generally poor; between 1 and 14 characteristics were adequately reported (mean = 7.7; standard deviation = 2.7). A 1996 update of this study found little improvement.7 In 1996, to address the suboptimal reporting of meta-analyses, an international group developed a guidance called the QUOROM Statement (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analyses), which focused on the reporting of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.8 In this article, we summarize a revision of these guidelines, renamed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), which have been updated to address several conceptual and practical advances in the science of systematic reviews (Box 1). Box 1 Conceptual issues in the evolution from QUOROM to PRISMA

46,935 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Sep 1997-BMJ
TL;DR: Funnel plots, plots of the trials' effect estimates against sample size, are skewed and asymmetrical in the presence of publication bias and other biases Funnel plot asymmetry, measured by regression analysis, predicts discordance of results when meta-analyses are compared with single large trials.
Abstract: Objective: Funnel plots (plots of effect estimates against sample size) may be useful to detect bias in meta-analyses that were later contradicted by large trials. We examined whether a simple test of asymmetry of funnel plots predicts discordance of results when meta-analyses are compared to large trials, and we assessed the prevalence of bias in published meta-analyses. Design: Medline search to identify pairs consisting of a meta-analysis and a single large trial (concordance of results was assumed if effects were in the same direction and the meta-analytic estimate was within 30% of the trial); analysis of funnel plots from 37 meta-analyses identified from a hand search of four leading general medicine journals 1993-6 and 38 meta-analyses from the second 1996 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews . Main outcome measure: Degree of funnel plot asymmetry as measured by the intercept from regression of standard normal deviates against precision. Results: In the eight pairs of meta-analysis and large trial that were identified (five from cardiovascular medicine, one from diabetic medicine, one from geriatric medicine, one from perinatal medicine) there were four concordant and four discordant pairs. In all cases discordance was due to meta-analyses showing larger effects. Funnel plot asymmetry was present in three out of four discordant pairs but in none of concordant pairs. In 14 (38%) journal meta-analyses and 5 (13%) Cochrane reviews, funnel plot asymmetry indicated that there was bias. Conclusions: A simple analysis of funnel plots provides a useful test for the likely presence of bias in meta-analyses, but as the capacity to detect bias will be limited when meta-analyses are based on a limited number of small trials the results from such analyses should be treated with considerable caution. Key messages Systematic reviews of randomised trials are the best strategy for appraising evidence; however, the findings of some meta-analyses were later contradicted by large trials Funnel plots, plots of the trials9 effect estimates against sample size, are skewed and asymmetrical in the presence of publication bias and other biases Funnel plot asymmetry, measured by regression analysis, predicts discordance of results when meta-analyses are compared with single large trials Funnel plot asymmetry was found in 38% of meta-analyses published in leading general medicine journals and in 13% of reviews from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews Critical examination of systematic reviews for publication and related biases should be considered a routine procedure

37,989 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An instrument to assess the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in pain research is described and its use to determine the effect of rater blinding on the assessments of quality is described.

15,740 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
24 Apr 2008-BMJ
TL;DR: The advantages of the GRADE system are explored, which is increasingly being adopted by organisations worldwide and which is often praised for its high level of consistency.
Abstract: Guidelines are inconsistent in how they rate the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations. This article explores the advantages of the GRADE system, which is increasingly being adopted by organisations worldwide

13,324 citations

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