Articles: neuralgia.
-
Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) and associated neuropathic pain are the most common and serious adverse effects experienced by cancer patients receiving paclitaxel treatment. These effects adversely impact daily activities and consequently the quality of life, sometimes forcing the suspension of treatment and negatively influencing survival. Patients are usually at high risk of developing PIPN if paclitaxel induces acute pain, which strongly suggests that an acute increase in the excitability of nociceptors underlies the chronic alterations of PIPN. ⋯ Although retigabine has been approved by the FDA as an anticonvulsant, our study suggests that this drug can be repurposed to attenuate the development of PIPN. PERSPECTIVE: Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy and associated neuropathic pain are severe and resistant to intervention. The results of our study demonstrated that retigabine (a clinically available medicine) can be used to attenuate the development of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy.
-
Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a disabling condition accompanying several cancer drugs, including the front-line chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel. Although CIPN can force dose reduction or even discontinuation of chemotherapy, affecting survival in cancer patients, there is no US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for CIPN. CIPN in mice is characterized by neuropathic pain (eg, mechanical allodynia) in association with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), as well as retraction of intraepidermal nerve fibers. ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) remains ineffectively managed in cancer patients, potentially leading to the discontinuation of an otherwise life-saving treatment. Here, we demonstrate that a monoclonal antibody targeting MMP9 alleviates neuropathic pain and several mechanisms linked to CIPN. This study is particularly relevant, because a humanized MMP9 antibody is already in advanced clinical trials for the treatment of colitis and cancer, and it may be straightforwardly repurposed for the relief of CIPN.
-
To assess inflammatory back pain (IBP) and neuropathic pain (NP) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and explore their relationships with disease activity and functional status. ⋯ Though pain quality (sensory and affective pain descriptors) show differently in patients with IBP or NP, the axSpA patients with IBP or NP experience more severe pain intensity and pain interference, higher disease activity, and greater functional limitation. The presence of IBP or NP could reflect higher disease activity or greater functional limitation in patients with axSpA.
-
Neuropathic pain significantly reduces an individual's quality of life and places a significant economic burden on society. As such, many cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) have been published for treatments available for neuropathic pain. ⋯ Though many pulished studies have evaluated the cost-effectiveness of treatments for neuropathic pain, significant heterogeneity between CEAs prevented synthesis of the results. Standardized methodology and improved reporting would allow for more reliable comparisons across studies.
-
A rat model of neuropathic pain at 6 weeks after spinal nerve ligation (SNL6w) exhibits both mechanical hypersensitivity and impaired noxious stimuli-induced analgesia (NSIA). Repeated treatment with antidepressants can produce antihypersensitivity and restore NSIA. To examine the involvement of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated mechanism, a tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), was administered to SNL6w rats (5 mg/kg/d for 5 days). ⋯ PERSPECTIVE: This article demonstrates that repeated treatment with TrkB agonist, DHF, restored endogenous analgesia. Repeated amitriptyline treatment showed similar effect via TrkB-mediated mechanisms, and the effect may be independent from the effect of antihypersensitivity. This effect of TrkB activation is promising for patients with chronic pain with impaired descending inhibition.