Effectiveness and Impact of Capsaicin 8% Patch on Quality of Life in Patients with Lumbosacral Pain: An Open-label Study.
Capsaicin 8% patch (Qutenza™) is mainly used to treat postherpetic neuralgia and HIV-associated neuropathy. Evidence of the efficacy of Qutenza in other forms of neuropathic pain is lacking.



To evaluate the analgesic effect and the impact on quality of life after a single application of the capsaicin 8% cutaneous patch in patients with lumbosacral pain.



Prospective open-label study of capsaicin 8% patch in patients with lumbosacral pain.



Outpatient Pain and Palliative Care Center.



All recruited patients were evaluated prior to capsaicin 8% patch administration and were followed-up at 2 weeks, at 8 weeks, and at 12 weeks post administration. Visual analog scale (VAS) was used to record pain intensity and EQ-5D was used to assess the quality of life of the participants.



Ninety patients met our inclusion criteria (54.4% men, mean age 59.1 ± 9.2 years). At baseline the mean VAS score of the participants was 7.6 ± 0.7. A statistically significant reduction of the VAS score between baseline and week 2 (mean VAS score 5.6 ± 1.1, P < 0.001) was observed. The therapeutic effect further continued between week 2 and week 8 (mean VAS score 3.2 ± 1.2, P < 0.001) and between week 8 and at endpoint at week 12 (mean VAS score 2.6 ± 1.1, P < 0.001).Between baseline and weeks 2, 8, and 12 (end-point) a significant improvement in all 5 dimensions of EQ-5D (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) was observed (P < 0.001).



As it is an open-label study, a prospective randomized placebo-controlled study should be designed to confirm the effectiveness of capsaicin 8% patch in patients with lumbosacral pain.



Administration of the capsaicin 8% patch resulted in a significant relief of neuropathic pain and a significant improvement of the quality of life of patients with lumbosacral neuropathic pain.



Lumbosacral pain, peripheral pain, Qutenza, neuropathic pain, capsaicin, patch, quality of life, effectiveness.
Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Panagiotis
P
Zis
Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Nikolitsa
N
Bernali
Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Erifili
E
Argira
Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Ioanna
I
Siafaka
Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Athina
A
Vadalouka
D000368:Aged; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018689:Sensory System Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057968:Transdermal Patch
D018689:Sensory System Agents; D002211:Capsaicin