Effect of Intravenous Low-dose S-ketamine on Pain in Patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Pain Pract

Specialties Neurology
Psychiatry

Date 2021 Jul 7

PMID 34233070

Citations 5

Authors

Thomas J P Mangnus

Maaike Dirckx

Krishna D Bharwani

Cecile C de Vos

Sander P G Frankema

Dirk L Stronks

Frank J P M Huygen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a low-dose intravenous S-ketamine treatment on refractory pain in patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).

Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with CRPS who received intravenous S-ketamine from March 2010 to April 2019 were included. According to our inpatient protocol, S-ketamine dose was increased until pain reduction was achieved or side effects were observed. Maximum dose was 14 mg/h and treatment duration was 7 days. Primary outcome parameters were pain scores (Numeric Rating Scale) at baseline (T0), end of infusion (T1), and approximately 4 weeks postinfusion (T2). Patients were categorized as responder/nonresponder at T1 and T2. Patients were considered a responder in case there was pain score reduction of greater than or equal to 2 points or if treatment was reported as successful.

Results: Forty-eight patients were included. Mean disease duration was 5 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 6 years). Median pain score significantly decreased from 8 (IQR = 2) at T0 to 6 (IQR = 4) at T1 (p < 0.001). At T1, 62% of the patients were responders. At T2, 48% of the patients remained a responder. A significant proportion of the responders at T1 turned into nonresponders at T2 (p = 0.03).

Conclusion: In a group of patients with CRPS with refractory pain, low-dose intravenous S-ketamine treatment resulted in effective pain relief during infusion. Although a significant proportion of initial responders became nonresponders at follow-up, half of the patients were still a responder at ~ 4 weeks postinfusion. Further research is needed to investigate mechanisms responsible for pain relief by S-ketamine infusions and to ascertain possible predictors of response to the treatment.

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