[Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase has an analgesic effect in chronic pain].
The efficacy of the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine hydrochloride (L-NMMA), was tested in 16 patients with chronic tension-type chronic headache. The study was designed as a randomized double-blind, crossover trial. Patients were assigned intravenous infusion of 6 mg/kg L-NMMA or placebo on two days separated by at least one week in a randomized order. Headache intensity was measured on a 100 mm visual analogue scale at baseline and at 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min after start of treatment. L-NMMA reduced pain intensity significantly more than placebo: 120 min after start of treatment, the mean pain score was decreased from 49 to 33 with L-NMMA and from 44 to 40 with placebo (p = 0.01). The present study demonstrates that inhibition of NOS has an analgesic effect in chronic tension-type headache.
Ashina
M
M
Neurologisk afdeling, Amtssygehuset i Glostrup.
Lassen
L H
LH
Bendtsen
L
L
Jensen
R A
RA
Olesen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase