Plain English Summary
Background and study aims:
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a nerve pain that occurs at the site of a previous attack of a condition called shingles. Neuralgia is a term that describes nerve pain. Postherpetic neuralgia is nerve pain which continues 3-6 months after the shingles rash has healed. PHN can have a severe impact on a patients quality of life. The health care costs related to persistent PHN puts a heavy economic burden and stress on families and societies. Unfortunately, PHN is often does not respond very well to the existing treatments.
The aim of this study is observe the effect of pregabalin in PHN patents. Treatment of PHN with pregabalin is safe and effective in relieving pain and sleep interference. However, to date no known studies investigating the effect of pregabalin on the central nerve system measured using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Who can participate?
Patients diagnosed with postherpetic neuralgia, aged over 60 years and weighing over 40kg.
What does the study involve?
Participants were randomly allocated to one of two 2 groups:
Pregabalin group), which received pregabalin twice a day for 14 days.
Placebo group, which received a placebo (dummy drug) twice a day for 14 days.
Oxycodone was used as rescue medication for pain if required.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
All participants received treatments which may improve the symptoms of PHN.
There were no known risks associated with participating in this trial.
Where is the study run from?
Pain Management Center, Xinhua Hospital
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
Participants were enrolled the study between December 2011 and November 2012 and follow-up examinations will continued until December 2012.
Who is funding the study?
Shanghai Education Committee, China ref: 11YZ56
Who is the main contact?
Prof M A Ke,
macoo72@163.com
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof MA Ke
ORCID ID
Contact details
Department of Anesthesiology
Xinhua Hospital
Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
1665 Kongjiang Road
Shanghai
200092
China
macoo72@gmail.com
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
The clinical study of effect of pregabalin to functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Iowa Gambling task (IGT) in postherpetic neuralgia patients: a prospective, double blind, randomised controlled trial
Acronym
Study hypothesis
1. That fMRI signal and IGT were different among postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients and control patients.
2. The drug (pregabalin) can affect signal of fMRI, the outcome of IGT, quality of life and reduce the oral pain-related drugs dosage of PHN patients
Ethics approval
Xinhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong Universty School of Medicine, 17 of March 2011, ref: 2011-003
Study design
Prospective double blind randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Postherpetic neuralgia
Intervention
PHN patients were randomized to receive pregabalin 150mg twice a day (Bid) or placebo for 2 weeks.
Rescue medication: Oxycodone 5-30mg/day or more orally was used as rescue medication for pain controlled at VAS more than 3 and the frequency of acute pain flares more than 3 times per day.
Intervention type
Drug
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Pregabalin
Primary outcome measure
1. fMRI signal change, IGT results at baseline, days 14 after treatment
2. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), measured at baseline, days1, 2, 3,7,14 after treatment
3. Flare pain per day during days 3, 7, 14 after treatment
Secondary outcome measures
1. SF-36 at baseline, days 14 after treatment
2. Dosage of rescue drug (Oxycodone) consumed per day at days3, 7, and 14 after treatment
3. Presence, frequency and duration of adverse effects at 7, 14 days
Overall trial start date
01/12/2011
Overall trial end date
30/12/2012
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Age greater than 60 years and over 40kg of body weight
2. Pain history is longer than 3 months
3. Pain on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) >3 (0-10 VAS scale), the frequency of acute pain flares occurred more than 3 times per day
4. Refractory to formal treatment such as antiepileptic medicine, antidepressants, opioids and physical treatments and epidural block
5. No history of severe liver and renal diseases
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
40 patients
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Withdraws from the study
2. Poor effect, intolerant to the study
3. Uncooperative and unable to finish the self evaluation (VAS, qulaity of life [QOL] and SF-36)
4. Coagulation disturbances
5. Allergies to drug
6. Malignancy
Recruitment start date
01/12/2011
Recruitment end date
30/12/2012
Locations
Countries of recruitment
China
Trial participating centre
Department of Anesthesiology
Shanghai
200092
China
Sponsor information
Organisation
Xinhua Hospital (China)
Sponsor details
Department of Anesthesiology
Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
1665 Kongjiang Road
Shanghai
200092
China
Marke72@163.com
Sponsor type
Hospital/treatment centre
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Shanghai Education Committee (China) ref: 11YZ56
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list