Treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy with topical capsaicin. Case report.
A 31-year-old woman with intractable reflex sympathetic dystrophy experienced nearly complete, though temporary, resolution of pain following 3 weeks of topical capsaicin. We propose that capsaicin may be a useful treatment for reflex sympathetic dystrophy, either by depleting substance P from primary afferent neurons that mediate allodynia, or by modulating sympathetic efferent activity.
Cheshire
William P
WP
Department of Neurology, 751 Clinical Sciences Building, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7025 U.S.A.
Snyder
Clyde R
CR
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003288:Contusions / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D009407:Nerve Block; D010166:Palliative Care; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology
D002211:Capsaicin