STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, multicenter trial. A 1-week baseline period was followed by two treatment periods of 5 weeks duration with levetiracetam increased from 500 mg b.i.d. to a maximum of 1500 mg b.i.d. separated by a 1-week washout period. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was primarily to evaluate the efficacy of the anticonvulsant levetiracetam in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) at- and below-level pain and secondarily to evaluate the effect on spasm severity. SETTING:Outpatients at two spinal cord units and a pain center. METHODS: Patients were allowed to continue their usual pain treatment at a constant dose. The primary outcome measure was the change in median daily pain score (on a 0-10 point numeric rating scale) from 1-week baseline period to the last week of each treatment period. Secondary outcome measures included pain relief of at- and below-level pain, allodynia, spasms and spasticity. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with SCI at- and or below-level pain were enrolled. Of these, 24 patients completed the trial. We found no effect of levetiracetam on the primary (P=0.46) or any of the secondary outcome measures. Only two patients continued levetiracetam treatment following the trial, and one patient was still in levetiracetam treatment at the 6-month follow-up. Levetiracetam was generally well tolerated with no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS:Levetiracetam does not relieve neuropathic pain or spasm severity following spinal cord injury.
RCT Entities:
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, multicenter trial. A 1-week baseline period was followed by two treatment periods of 5 weeks duration with levetiracetam increased from 500 mg b.i.d. to a maximum of 1500 mg b.i.d. separated by a 1-week washout period. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was primarily to evaluate the efficacy of the anticonvulsant levetiracetam in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) at- and below-level pain and secondarily to evaluate the effect on spasm severity. SETTING: Outpatients at two spinal cord units and a pain center. METHODS:Patients were allowed to continue their usual pain treatment at a constant dose. The primary outcome measure was the change in median daily pain score (on a 0-10 point numeric rating scale) from 1-week baseline period to the last week of each treatment period. Secondary outcome measures included pain relief of at- and below-level pain, allodynia, spasms and spasticity. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients with SCI at- and or below-level pain were enrolled. Of these, 24 patients completed the trial. We found no effect of levetiracetam on the primary (P=0.46) or any of the secondary outcome measures. Only two patients continued levetiracetam treatment following the trial, and one patient was still in levetiracetam treatment at the 6-month follow-up. Levetiracetam was generally well tolerated with no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS:Levetiracetam does not relieve neuropathic pain or spasm severity following spinal cord injury.
Authors: Robert W Teasell; Swati Mehta; Jo-Anne L Aubut; Brianne Foulon; Dalton L Wolfe; Jane T C Hsieh; Andrea F Townson; Christine Short Journal: Arch Phys Med Rehabil Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 3.966
Authors: Li Mei; Mu Fengqun; Zuo Zhengyao; Fan Mingming; Wang Qing; Liu Xiaozhuo; Su Dongpo; Han Qian; Chen Tong Journal: Spinal Cord Date: 2022-04-25 Impact factor: 2.772
Authors: Beatrice Mihaela Radu; Placido Bramanti; Francesco Osculati; Maria-Luisa Flonta; Mihai Radu; Giuseppe Bertini; Paolo Francesco Fabene Journal: Mediators Inflamm Date: 2013-06-05 Impact factor: 4.711