2007-10-01
Determination of pain and response to methylprednisolone in Guillain-Barré syndrome
Publication
Publication
Journal of Neurology: official journal of the European Neurological Society , Volume 254 - Issue 10 p. 1318- 1322
Pain can be a serious problem in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Different pain symptoms and the effect of methylprednisolone on pain are evaluated. Methods: GBS patients were recruited from a randomized placebo-controlled study comparing intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) + methylprednisolone (500 mg for 5 days) versus IVIg + placebo. Presence and severity of pain were prospectively scored at randomization and after 4 weeks. Efficacy of methylprednisolone was evaluated using endpoints: percentage of patients with pain and percentage of patients improving in pain-severity level. Medical records of the subgroup of patients treated in the Erasmus MC were screened retrospectively for different pain symptoms and course. Pain was scored at different time intervals: within 4 weeks before randomization and 0-2, 2-4, 4-24, 24-52 weeks after randomization. Results: 123 (55%) of 223 patients had pain at randomization. In 70%, pain already started before onset of weakness. Methylprednisolone did not show a positive effect on the presence and reduction of pain. In the subgroup of 39 patients, backache (33%), interscapular (28%), muscle (24%), radicular pain (18%) and painful par-/dysaesthesiae (18%) were most frequently present within the period of 4 weeks before randomization. Twenty-six percent had extreme pain 0-2 weeks after randomization. Most symptoms of pain decreased after this period, but painful par-/dysaesthesiae and muscle pain often remained present during at least 6 months. Conclusions: Pain frequently occurs, often starts before onset of weakness and may cause severe complaints. Especially painful par-/dysaesthesiae and muscle pain may persist for months. Methylprednisolone seems to have no significant effect on the presence and intensity of pain.
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doi.org/10.1007/s00415-006-0515-2, hdl.handle.net/1765/36022 | |
Journal of Neurology: official journal of the European Neurological Society | |
Organisation | Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam |
Ruts, L., van Koningsveld, R., Jacobs, B., & van Doorn, P. (2007). Determination of pain and response to methylprednisolone in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Journal of Neurology: official journal of the European Neurological Society, 254(10), 1318–1322. doi:10.1007/s00415-006-0515-2 |