Clinical application of drug pump for spasticity, pain, and restorative neurosurgery: other clinical applications of intrathecal baclofen.
Intrathecal baclofen has been successfully used for control of severe spasticity. Baclofen, an agonist of GABA-B receptor, has other potential effects on pain and recovery from coma. Sporadic episodes of dramatic recovery from persistent vegetative state are reported after intrathecal administration of baclofen. There are also reports on the use of baclofen for neuropathic pain including post-stroke central pain syndrome. Baclofen is also used for control of dystonia due to cerebral palsy or reflex sympathetic dystrophy. On the other hand, epidural spinal cord stimulation has been used for pain, spasticity, dystonia, or attempt to improve deteriorated consciousness, though the effects seem variable and modest. Similarity between baclofen and spinal cord stimulation is interesting in that both involves in spinal GABAergic system. The GABAergic system in the spinal cord plays a pivotal role in various clinical effects of these procedures.
D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004421:Dystonia / Q000628:therapy*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D059408:Pain Management; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy
D001418:Baclofen