title: A successful case of pain management using metformin in a patient with adiposis dolorosa.
abstract: In this case report, we describe a patient with Dercum's disease who was successfully managed with metformin. The administration of metformin reduced pain intensity from 9/10 to 3/10 and favorably affected the profile of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF a, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10), adipokines (i.e., adiponectin, leptin, and resistin), and β-endorphin. Because each variable was affected moderately by the drug, in the range of 20 - 30%, it follows that these effects are additive, i.e., they act independently of each other. However, taking into account advances in the pharmacology of metformin, it seems that other phenomena, such as modulation of synaptic plasticity, activation of microglia, and autophagy of the afferents supplying painful lipomas should be taken into consideration. Nonetheless, metformin deserves further exploration in the biology of pain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. labuzek@labuzek.com
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Łabuzek
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liber
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Suchy
authors.forename: Bogusław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Okopień
mesh_terms: D000274:Adiposis Dolorosa / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin