de Andrade, D.C., Jacobsen Teixeira, M., Galhardoni, R., Ferreira, K.S.L., Braz Mileno, P., Scisci, N., . . . de Souza, A.M. (2017). Pregabalin for the prevention of oxaliplatin-induced painful neuropathy: A randomized, double-blind trial. Oncologist, 22, 1154–1155, e99–e105.
Evaluate the effect on pregabalin given three days prior and three days after each oxaliplatin dose on oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy
Pregabalin versus placebo given three days prior to and three days after oxaliplatin infusion on weeks 1, 3, and 5 of an 8-week cycle.
PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment
Randomized, placebo controlled trial
Main outcome was pain level based on the visual analog scale (rating 0-10) and the brief pain inventory (BPI). Secondary endpoints were the presence of pain from neuropathy as well the severity of pain based on the Douleur Neuropathique–4 (DN-4), the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), and any changes in the nerve conduction studies as well as subjective side effect profile.
The pain intensity level of the pregabalin group was 1.03 (95% CI [0.76, 1.26]) and was 0.85 in the placebo group (95% CI [0.64, 1.06]). Quality-of-life scores did not differ between the two groups (placebo QOL was 76.9 [SD = 23.1] and the pregabalin QOL was 79.4 [SD = 20.6]). There were no significant differences in any of the outcome measures.
The intervention was safe, but did not decrease the pain severity or incidence of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy.
Pregabalin may be safe to take, but does not prevent neuropathy in those receiving oxaliplatin.