Pilot Study: Evaluation of the Effects of Treatment with 0.75% Topical Capsaicin in Patients with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Using Three Phase Bone Scintigraphy.

摘要

Eight patients with dysesthetic pain were treated in an open trial with capsaicin 0.075%, including five patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and one each with meralgia paresthetica, thalamic pain syndrome, and multiple sclerosis. Pain relief and functional impairment were assessed by visual analogue and functional capacity scales respectively. At the end of the study period, pain relief in the RSD group averaged 73%; impairment score declined by 60%. Abnormalities of pretreatment bone scintigraphy reversed in patients with symptoms of less than eight months duration. In patients with RSD and other dysesthetic pain syndrome topical capsaicin may specifically relieve superficial, burning, dysesthetic pain, a major factor in the physical and emotional disability seen in this syndrome. The spectrum of capsaicin's current clinical use is discussed. On the basis of the results of this study we recommend larger, controlled and blinded studies to assess further the efficacy of topical capsaicin in dysesthetic pain syndromes.