title: The role of pregabalin in relieving ureteral stent-related symptoms: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of pregabalin in relieving USRS in patients with an indwelling double-J (DJ) stents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 500 adult patients with a unilateral single ureteral stone who underwent ureteroscopic stone management and required DJ stent insertion were prospectively included in our study. Patients were blindly assigned into four groups A, B, C and D. Those in group A were managed with combination of solifenacin 5-mg tablets and pregabalin 75-mg capsules bid. Patients in group B were managed with solifenacin 5-mg tablets. Those in group C were managed with pregabalin 75-mg capsules bid. Those in group D were control group. All patients were evaluated on day 15 postoperatively for stent-related symptoms using the Arabic translated and validated ureteral stent symptom questionnaire (USSQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total USSQ score as well as general health index was significantly lower in group A as compared to other groups. In addition, urinary symptom index was significantly improved in both groups A and B as compared to group C and group D. Pain symptom index was significantly improved in both groups A and C as compared to groups B and D. No statistically significant difference was reported regarding sexual index and work performance index among the whole study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregabalin appears to be a well-tolerated, safe and effective drug in reducing most of USRS, especially relief of pain with subsequent improvement of patient's quality of life. Its combination with solifenacin should be considered to manage patients with USRS as it shows a significant improvement in total USSQ score and general health index when compared to each drug alone.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maged
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragab
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt. mohagab2006@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mohamed G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Soliman
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdel Raheem
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: El-Tatawy
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abo Farha
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magdy
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Tanta University Hospital, Tanta, Egypt.
authors.forename: Osama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elashry
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D021501:Flank Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006417:Hematuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069583:Pregabalin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D000069464:Solifenacin Succinate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014513:Ureter; D014514:Ureteral Calculi / Q000601:surgery; D064804:Urological Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D064804:Urological Agents; D000069583:Pregabalin; D000069464:Solifenacin Succinate
keywords: Management of stent-related symptoms; Pregabalin; Stent-related symptoms; Ureteral stent symptom questionnaire