Australian Pain Society member, Philip Siddall, and fellow IASP members have recently published in The Lancet Neurology:
Nanna B Finnerup, MD†, Prof Nadine Attal, MD†, Simon Haroutounian, PhD, Ewan McNicol, MS, Prof Ralf Baron, MD, Prof Robert H Dworkin, PhD, Prof Ian Gilron, MD, Maija Haanpää, MD, Prof Per Hansson, MD, Prof Troels S Jensen, MD, Peter R Kamerman, PhD, Karen Lund, MD, Prof Andrew Moore, DSc, Prof Srinivasa N Raja, MD, Prof Andrew S C Rice, MD, Prof Michael Rowbotham, MD, Emily Sena, PhD, Prof Philip Siddall, MD, Prof Blair H Smith, MD, Prof Mark Wallace, MD
†Contributed equally
Article first published online: 06 JAN 2015
The Lancet Neurology Vol 14, No. 2, p162-173, FEB15 DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70251-0
Link: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(14)70251-0/abstract
ABSTRACT
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 Evaluation (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pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain, including studies published in peer-reviewed journals since January, 1966, and unpublished trials retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov and websites of pharmaceutical companies.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 fixed-effects Mantel-Haenszel method.
Findings
229 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Analysis of publication bias suggested a 10% overstatement of treatment effects. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals reported greater effects than did unpublished studies (r2 9·3%, p=0·009). Trial 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, final 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 findings permitted a strong recommendation for use and proposal as first-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 efficacy, large placebo responses, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria, and poor phenotypic profiling 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 (IASP).
Additional Information:
The IASP Global Year Against Neuropathic Pain continues until 31 December 2015. For further information, including a poster and fact sheets, please refer to the Australian Pain Society Website: Global Year Against Pain.
Australian Pain Society 