title: Analgesic effect of etoricoxib (Arcoxia®) 120 mg during retinal laser photocoagulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Panphotocoagulation reduces the risk of vision loss in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. However, not many patients tolerate this treatment well due to pain. Therefore, we evaluated the analgesic effect of etoricoxib during photocoagulation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted on 44 consecutive patients eligible for panphotocoagulation due to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. During the first panphotocoagulation session, both groups were treated without medication. During the following session, the control group received a placebo pill while the other group received etoricoxib 120 mg. Both groups took the medicines 1 hour before the treatment. After each session, the patients quantified the level of pain on a subjective visual scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 52 patients were selected for the study and the data of 44 patients were analyzed. In the control group, the average level of pain in the first session was 7.68 (standard deviation 1.70), dropping to an average of 7.32 (standard deviation 1.39) after ingestion of placebo. Therefore, there was no statistical difference (p = 0.1187). In contrast, the average level of pain without the drug in the group taking etoricoxib 120 mg was 7.95 (standard deviation 1.46) vs 5.18 (standard deviation 1.65) with the drug, a significant statistical difference (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Etoricoxib 120 mg reduces pain and can be used before panphotocoagulation. Data show that the medication is more effective against pain during photocoagulation than placebo.
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. vpaganini@iwserver.com.br
authors.forename: Vinicius P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Hélio P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Primiano
authors.forename: Otacílio O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelayes
authors.forename: Walter Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000698:Analgesia; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000077613:Etoricoxib; D058447:Eye Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011725:Pyridines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D013450:Sulfones; D000077613:Etoricoxib