Effects of levetiracetam on chronic pain in multiple sclerosis: results of a pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled study

• Published in: European journal of neurology Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 360 - 366
• Main Authors: Rossi, S., Mataluni, G., Codecà, C., Fiore, S., Buttari, F., Musella, A., Castelli, M., Bernardi, G., Centonze, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Analgesics - adverse effects; Analgesics - therapeutic use; anticonvulsants; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; chronic neuropathic pain; clinical trial; Depression - drug therapy; Disability Evaluation; Female; Humans; levetiracetam; Male; Middle Aged; multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - complications; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - physiopathology; Neuralgia - drug therapy; Neuralgia - etiology; pain; Pain Measurement; Pilot Projects; Piracetam - adverse effects; Piracetam - analogs & derivatives; Piracetam - therapeutic use; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1351-5101; 1468-1331; 1471-0552
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02496.x

Background and purpose:  Central neuropathic pain (CNP) is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The anticonvulsant levetiracetam (LEV) has been shown to be efficacious in some types of CNP, but its efficacy in MS‐related CNP has not been confirmed. Methods:  To investigate the tolerability and potential effects of LEV against CNP in MS subjects, we performed a single‐center, prospective, randomized, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled study in twenty patients with MS and CNP. Outcomes before and during the 3‐month study were assessed using validated measures of pain, depression, disability and quality of life. Results:  The medication was well tolerated and analysis revealed a significant difference between the LEV and placebo arm in all study outcomes related to pain (mean pain intensity score, mean pain difference, percentage of patients with a clinically significant pain reduction). Furthermore, the individual quality of life rating improved in treated patients, showing a significant correlation with pain reduction. Conclusions:  These findings suggest that further studies with larger samples of patients be carried out in order to confirm the efficacy of LEV in MS‐related CNP population.