title: A double-blind, randomized, comparative study of the use of a combination of uridine triphosphate trisodium, cytidine monophosphate disodium, and hydroxocobalamin, versus isolated treatment with hydroxocobalamin, in patients presenting with compressive neuralgias.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper reports on the results of treatment of compressive neuralgia using a combination of nucleotides (uridine triphosphate trisodium [UTP] and cytidine monophosphate disodium [CMP]) and vitamin B12.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and efficacy of the combination of nucleotides (UTP and CMP) and vitamin B12in patients presenting with neuralgia arising from neural compression associated with degenerative orthopedic alterations and trauma, and to compare these effects with isolated administration of vitamin B12.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, consisting of a 30-day oral treatment period: Group A (n=200) receiving nucleotides + vitamin B12,and Group B (n=200) receiving vitamin B12alone. The primary study endpoint was the percentage of subjects presenting pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores ≤20 at end of study treatment period. Secondary study endpoints included the percentage of subjects presenting improvement ≥5 points on the patient functionality questionnaire (PFQ); percentage of subjects presenting pain reduction (reduction in VAS scores at study end in relation to pretreatment); and number of subjects presenting adverse events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this study showed a more expressive improvement in efficacy evaluations among subjects treated with the combination of nucleotides + vitamin B12, with a statistically significant superiority of the combination in pain reduction (evidenced by VAS scores). There were adverse events in both treatment groups, but these were transitory and no severe adverse event was recorded during the study period. Safety parameters were maintained throughout the study in both treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of uridine, cytidine, and vitamin B12was safe and effective in the treatment of neuralgias arising from neural compression associated with degenerative orthopedic alterations and trauma.
authors.affiliation: UERJ Medical School, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Henrique
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: UNIFESO Medical School, Teresópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mibielli
authors.affiliation: UNIFESO Medical School, Teresópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Pereira
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie Wrobel
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pós-Graduação Médica Carlos Chagas (ICC), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buchman
authors.affiliation: New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Spyros Ge
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mezitis
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rzetelna
authors.affiliation: UNIFESO Medical School, Teresópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: UNIFESO Medical School, Teresópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.affiliation: New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Neurology, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wajnsztajn
keywords: compressive neuralgia; cytidine monophosphate disodium; hydroxocobalamin; uridine triphosphate trisodium