Neurosurgery
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Case Reports Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Relief of glossopharyngeal neuralgia by ketamine-induced N-methyl-aspartate receptor blockade.
We examined whether ketamine, which is a noncompetitive blocker of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, had the ability to relieve glossopharyngeal neuralgia. A tentative hypothesis is that glossopharyngeal neuralgia involves hyperactivity in the central nociceptive neurons and that the development of this hyperactivity is dependent on activation of NMDA receptors. ⋯ This case report shows that ketamine-induced NMDA receptor blockade significantly relieved glossopharyngeal neuralgia in this patient. Therefore, NMDA receptors may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the pain syndrome described.