title: Use of palmitoylethanolamide in the entrapment neuropathy of the median in the wrist.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition in which the median nerve is compressed, leading to discomfort and pain. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is an endogenous fatty acid amide, able to modulate inflammatory cell reactivity and pain. This study deals with the capability of PEA to normalize the electroneurographic alterations associated with moderate CTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients displaying moderate CTS were enrolled and daily PEA (600 mg or 1 200 mg/die) was administered for 30 days. Control group received no treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PEA treatment significantly improved the CTS-induced reduction of median nerve latency time (P<0.0004); PEA effect was dose-dependent. Tinel's sign presence and symptoms of discomfort were also reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although further studies are needed to better characterize PEA effect, the present report represents the first evidence on the improvement of distal motor latency elicited by PEA in patients with moderate CTS. The data support the hypothesis of protection against inflammatory and neuropathic pain by PEA.
authors.affiliation: Operative Unity of Neurology, Siracusa, Italy. robconi@tin.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Conigliaro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schievano
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004983:Ethanolamines; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C005958:palmidrol