[Gabapentin mitigates neuropathic pain in cancer patients--a case report].
A 64-year-old male underwent low anterior resection of the rectum for rectal cancer. Five years later, he suffered neuropathic cancer pain on the left-posterior surface of his thigh caused by sacral invasion of the recurrence site. His neuropathic pain was not sufficiently responsive to the combination therapy of opioids, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), continuous infusion of subcutaneous ketamine and oral mexiletine. Gabapentin, which has been suggested as an adjuvant analgesic for neuropathic pain introduced orally, rapidly and significantly alleviated his pain and we could subsequently dispense with ketamine and mexiletine. No adverse effect was seen during this treatment. The present case indicates that gabapentin would be one of the most effective adjuvant analgesics for neuropathic cancer pain.
Shakaihoken Kobe Central Hospital Palliative Care Unit.
Masakuni
M
Okada
Takuya
T
Shinjo
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012447:Sacrum; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin