title: Clinical practice guidelines for management of neuropathic pain: expert panel recommendations for South Africa.
abstract: Neuropathic pain (NeuP) is challenging to diagnose and manage, despite ongoing improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Many patients do not respond satisfactorily to existing treatments. There are no published guidelines for diagnosis or management of NeuP in South Africa. A multidisciplinary expert panel critically reviewed available evidence to provide consensus recommendations for diagnosis and management of NeuP in South Africa. Following accurate diagnosis of NeuP, pregabalin, gabapentin, low-dose tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine and venlafaxine) are all recommended as first-line options for the treatment of peripheral NeuP. If the response is insufficient after 2 - 4 weeks, the recommended next step is to switch to a different class, or combine different classes of agent. Opioids should be reserved for use later in the treatment pathway, if switching drugs and combination therapy fails. For central NeuP, pregabalin or amitriptyline are recommended as first-line agents. Companion treatments (cognitive behavioural therapy and physical therapy) should be administered as part of a multidisciplinary approach. Dorsal root entry zone rhizotomy (DREZ) is not recommended to treat NeuP. Given the large population of HIV/AIDS patients in South Africa, and the paucity of positive efficacy data for its management, research in the form of randomised controlled trials in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) must be prioritised in this country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. seanchetty@gmail.com
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chetty
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baalbergen
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bhigjee
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kamerman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ouma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raath
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raff
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salduker
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000187:drug effects; D017288:Pain Threshold; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic