• Gunnar Wasner, Dennis Naleschinski, Andreas Binder, Jörn Schattschneider, Elspeth M McLachlan, and Ralf Baron.
• Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. g.wasner@unsw.edu.au
• Pain Med. 2008 Apr 1;9(3):354-8.

ObjectiveCutaneous application of menthol in healthy subjects induces cold allodynia via sensitization of cold-sensitive nociceptors. We investigated the effects of menthol on preexisting cold allodynia in patients to test whether the allodynia was exacerbated.DesignIn eight neuropathic pain patients (six of peripheral, two of central origin), 40% menthol was applied topically to an area of preexisting cold allodynia. Mirror-image skin areas and aged-matched healthy subjects served as controls in patients with unilateral and bilateral neuropathic pain, respectively. Prior to and after menthol, cold pain thresholds were measured using a thermotest device.ResultsMenthol induced significant cold allodynia in control areas. However, in neuropathic areas, results were more heterogeneous. Overall, preexisting cold allodynia was not aggravated by topical menthol and was attenuated in 6/8 patients.ConclusionsThese results suggest that, unlike in controls, menthol is not more hyperalgesic, but may be analgesic in some patients with peripheral and central neuropathic pain.

17 keywords...

hide…