title: Efficacy of gabapentin in the improvement of pruritus and quality of life of patients with notalgia paresthetica.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  notalgia paresthetica is a subdiagnosed sensory neuropathy presenting as a condition of intense itching and hyperchromic macule on the back that interferes with daily habits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of treatment of notalgia paresthetica using oral gabapentin, assessing the degree of improvement in itching and influence on quality of life. Moreover, to evaluate the signs and symptoms associated with notalgia paresthetica.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an experimental, non-randomized, parallel, non-blinded study including 20 patients with clinical and histopathological diagnosis of notalgia paresthetica. After application of the visual analogue scale of pain adapted for pruritus and of the questionnaire of dermatology life quality index (DLQI), ten patients with visual analogue scale > 5 were given treatment with gabapentin at the dose of 300 mg/day for four weeks. The other ten were treated with topical capsaicin 0.025% daily for four weeks. After the treatment period, patients answered again the scale of itching.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of gabapentin was responsible for a significant improvement in pruritus (p=0.0020). Besides itching and hyperchromic stain on the back, patients reported paresthesia and back pain. It was observed that the main factor in the worsening of the rash is heat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gabapentin is a good option for the treatment of severe itching caused by nostalgia paresthetica.
authors: Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, SP, Brazil.
authors: Ana Alice Wolf
authors: AA
authors: Maciel
authors: Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, SP, Brazil.
authors: Paulo Rowilson
authors: PR
authors: Cunha
authors: Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí, Jundiaí, SP, Brazil.
authors: Isabela Ortiz
authors: IO
authors: Laraia
authors: Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
authors: Flávia
authors: F
authors: Trevisan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001416:Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D000982:Antipruritics; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D018682:GABA Agents; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin; D002211:Capsaicin