Current perception thresholds of patients with long-term administration of maprotiline.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate sensory nerve function using current perception thresholds (CPTs) in patients who were administrated maprotiline. Twelve patients with post-herpetic neuralgia and 20 control subjects were studied. The patients with post-herpetic neuralgia were given a daily dose of 60 mg of maprotiline and were maintained at the same dose for 6 months. Twenty control subjects were randomly selected from healthy volunteers. ACPT test was used for quantitative assessment of A beta, A sigma, and C fiber transmission, which are associated with pain, by three (2000, 250, and 5 Hz) different frequencies of electric stimulation. CPTs of 5, 250, and 2000 Hz in patients with post-herpetic neuralgia 2 months after administration of maprotiline were 141.7 +/- 17.3 for 5 Hz, 120.8 +/- 12.9 for 250 Hz, and 256.4 +/- 18.0 for 2000 Hz, which were significantly (P < 0.01) higher than those (67.0 +/- 9.1 for 5 Hz, 73.4 +/- 7.0 for 250 Hz, and 191.3 +/- 20.2 for 2000 Hz) before treatment and than those (35.3 +/- 15.8, 62.0 +/- 18.9, and 198.9 +/- 15.8) of control subjects. An increase in CPT for 5 Hz at 2 months after administration of maprotiline correlated (r = 0.71, p = 0.01) with a decrease in pain score. There were no correlations between an increase in CPT and changes in Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) values until 3 months after maprotiline treatment. However, we found that an increase in CPT for 5 Hz at 6 months after maprotiline treatment correlated (r = 0.68, p = 0.015) with a decrease in HAMD values. In conclusion, administration of 60 mg maprotiline significantly increased current perception thresholds at 2 months after the administration.
Department of Anesthesiology, Hirosaki National Hospital, Hirosaki, Japan.
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Kudoh
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Katagai
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Takazawa
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D008376:Maprotiline