title: The effect of transdermal nitroglycerin on pain control in diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite high prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy there is no definite treatment for the condition. The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of transdermal nitroglycerin patch in pain control of patients with DPN.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, double-blind, crossover study was conducted on 30 patients with symmetric distal peripheral neuropathy and good glycemic control. The patients were randomly assigned to receive nitroglycerin transdermal and placebo patches in two 4-week stages. The severity of pain and other neuropathic sensory symptoms were assessed at the end of each course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean reduction of pain severity was more prominent in the NTG group compared to placebo group of the study (p = 0.048) at least during the first phase of the study. Except for mood and sleep, a significant reduction in all Brief Pain Inventory scores was noted in the drug group (all corrected p < 0.05). SF-MPQ also showed the drug patch to be effective in improving different aspects of pain measured using McGill Pain Questionnaire, except for Role-emotional.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It could be concluded that nitroglycerin plasters can effectively help alleviate pain in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  IRCT201308223213N1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Amir Alam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Arman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ; Department: Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Institution: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ; Department of Anesthesiology, Shahid Faghihi Hospital, Zand Boulevard, Shiraz, Fars Iran.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farbood
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Chronic Diseases Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heshmat
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Amir Alam Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Afshin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samadi
authors.affiliation: Osteoporosis Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khashayar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qorbani
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghorbani
authors.affiliation: Emergency Disaster Center of Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghazaleh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ebrahimi Khaneqah
keywords: Diabetes complications; Nitroglycerin; Painful polyneuropathy