title: Gabapentin monotherapy for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of gabapentin monotherapy in the management of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-five cancer patients who had previously received chemotherapy, and had experienced at least one symptom of neuropathic pain were included in the intervention group. They received a fixed low-dose of gabapentin (800 mg/day). The control group consisted of 35 cancer patients with similar treatment history and symptomatology, who refused treatment with gabapentin and, therefore, received a fixed-dose combination of naproxen and codeine/paracetamol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were grouped in three categories according to the severity of their neuropathic symptoms at baseline: mild, moderate, and severe. Analgesic efficacy of the study drug was assessed by means of a patient-answered questionnaire. Four stages of analgesic response were established: complete, partial, minor, and no response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients completed the study and were evaluable. In the intervention arm, gabapentin led to a complete response in 25.3% of patients (19/75), partial response in 44% (33/75), minor response in 25.3% (19/75), and no response in 5.3% (4/75). The response to gabapentin correlated with the severity of the underlying neurotoxicity. Approximately 25% of patients receiving gabapentin experienced mild somnolence, but none discontinued it. In the control group, none experienced complete response (0/35), while partial, minor, and no response were observed in 5.7% (2/35), 45.7% (16/35), and 48.6% (17/35), respectively. Compared with the control group, gabapentin therapy led to a statistically significant better response in patients of each baseline neurotoxicity group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gabapentin monotherapy seems to be well tolerated and useful for the management of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Oncology Unit, Laiko University Hospital, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kopterides
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kosmas
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Efthymiou
authors.forename: Hlias
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skopelitis
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimitrakopoulos
authors.forename: Eyterpi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagouni
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pikazis
authors.forename: Panagiotis-Vasilis
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Zis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koufos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000700:Analgesics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin