title: [Efficacy of gabapentin in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety of gabapentin in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), as well as the electromyographic (EMG) evolution after 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study with a 6-month follow-up of patients with EMG diagnosis of primary CTS starting treatment with 1.800 mg/day of gabapentin. At baseline visit and after 6 months of treatment a complete clinical evaluation and an EMG study were performed. Adverse effects of gabapentin were also registered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five patients were included, mean age (standard deviation) 58.88 (7.69) years. After 6 months of treatment, a statistically significant reduction of pain (p = 0.001) and improvement of severity of symptoms (p = 0.008) were observed, although functional capacity did not change. EMG was performed in 19 patients at 6 months. Compared to baseline EMG: 52.6% patients showed no changes in EMG findings, while 5.3% patients showed improvement and in 26.3% the EMG was normal. Progression was only seen in 15.8% of patients after 6 months of treatment. In 28% of the patients gabapentin was stopped because of side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our series, gabapentin was effective in the reduction of pain and improvement of the severity of the symptoms. Results of EMG after 6 months of treatment showed no changes, with improvement and/or remission in 84.2% of the cases. The drug was safe and well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital del Mar y Hospital de la Esperanza, Institut Municipal d'Assistència Sanitària, Barcelona, España. 95478@imas.imim.es
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taverner
authors.forename: M Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lisbona
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Segalés
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Docampo
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calvet
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benito
mesh_terms: D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin