Effects of levetiracetam on chronic pain in multiple sclerosis: results of a pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
Central neuropathic pain (CNP) is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The anticonvulsant levetiracetam (LEV) has been shown to be efficacious in some types of CNP, but its efficacy in MS-related CNP has not been confirmed.


METHODS
To investigate the tolerability and potential effects of LEV against CNP in MS subjects, we performed a single-center, prospective, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study in twenty patients with MS and CNP. Outcomes before and during the 3-month study were assessed using validated measures of pain, depression, disability and quality of life.


RESULTS
The medication was well tolerated and analysis revealed a significant difference between the LEV and placebo arm in all study outcomes related to pain (mean pain intensity score, mean pain difference, percentage of patients with a clinically significant pain reduction). Furthermore, the individual quality of life rating improved in treated patients, showing a significant correlation with pain reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that further studies with larger samples of patients be carried out in order to confirm the efficacy of LEV in MS-related CNP population.
Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
S
S
Rossi
G
G
Mataluni
C
C
Codecà
S
S
Fiore
F
F
Buttari
A
A
Musella
M
M
Castelli
G
G
Bernardi
D
D
Centonze
D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010889:Piracetam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam