Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis

Background. Capsaicin, one of several capsaicinoid compounds, is a potent TRPV1 agonist. Topical application at high concentration (high concentration, >1%) induces a reversible disappearance of epidermal free nerve endings and is used to treat peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP). While the benefit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fanny Bauchy, Andre Mouraux, Ronald Deumens, Marjolein Leerink, Antonio Ulpiano Trillig, Bernard le Polain de Waroux, Arnaud Steyaert, Quetin-Leclercq Joëlle, Patrice Forget
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Pain Research and Management
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9703036
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850174496406765568
author Fanny Bauchy
Andre Mouraux
Ronald Deumens
Marjolein Leerink
Antonio Ulpiano Trillig
Bernard le Polain de Waroux
Arnaud Steyaert
Quetin-Leclercq Joëlle
Patrice Forget
author_facet Fanny Bauchy
Andre Mouraux
Ronald Deumens
Marjolein Leerink
Antonio Ulpiano Trillig
Bernard le Polain de Waroux
Arnaud Steyaert
Quetin-Leclercq Joëlle
Patrice Forget
author_sort Fanny Bauchy
collection DOAJ
description Background. Capsaicin, one of several capsaicinoid compounds, is a potent TRPV1 agonist. Topical application at high concentration (high concentration, >1%) induces a reversible disappearance of epidermal free nerve endings and is used to treat peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP). While the benefit of low-concentration capsaicin remains controversial, the 8%-capsaicin patch (Qutenza®, 2010, Astellas, Netherlands) has shown its effectiveness. This patch is, however, costly and natural high-concentration capsaicinoid solutions may represent a cheaper alternative to pure capsaicin. Methods. In this retrospective study, 149 patients were screened, 132 were included with a diagnosis of neuropathic pain, and eighty-four were retained in the final analyses (median age: 57.5 years [IQR25–75: 44.7–67.1], male/female: 30/54) with PNP who were treated with topical applications of natural high-concentration capsaicinoid solutions (total number of applications: 137). Indications were postsurgical PNP (85.7%) and nonsurgical PNP (14.3%) (posttraumatic, HIV-related, postherpetic, and radicular PNP). Objectives. To assess the feasibility of topical applications of natural high-concentration capsaicinoid solutions for the treatment of PNP. Results. The median treated area was 250 cm2 [IQR25–75: 144–531]. The median amount of capsaicinoids was 55.1 mg [IQR25–75: 28.7–76.5] per plaster and the median concentration was 172.3 μg/cm2 [IQR25–75: 127.6–255.2]. Most patients had local adverse effects on the day of treatment, such as mild to moderate burning pain and erythema. 13.6–19.4% of the patients experienced severe pain or erythema. Following treatment, 62.5% of patients reported a lower pain intensity or a smaller pain surface, and 35% reported a sustained pain relief lasting for at least 4 weeks. Conclusion. Analgesic topical treatment with natural high-concentration capsaicinoid is feasible and may represent a low cost alternative to alleviate PNP in clinical practice.
format Article
id doaj-art-d5f00d3b1b0f42f686f52aa3165c69cf
institution OA Journals
issn 1203-6765
1918-1523
language English
publishDate 2016-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Pain Research and Management
spelling doaj-art-d5f00d3b1b0f42f686f52aa3165c69cf2025-08-20T02:19:38ZengWileyPain Research and Management1203-67651918-15232016-01-01201610.1155/2016/97030369703036Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective AnalysisFanny Bauchy0Andre Mouraux1Ronald Deumens2Marjolein Leerink3Antonio Ulpiano Trillig4Bernard le Polain de Waroux5Arnaud Steyaert6Quetin-Leclercq Joëlle7Patrice Forget8Department of Anesthesiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of NeuroScience, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of NeuroScience, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumInstitute of NeuroScience, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Anesthesiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Anesthesiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Anesthesiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumLouvain Drug Research Institute, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Anesthesiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, BelgiumBackground. Capsaicin, one of several capsaicinoid compounds, is a potent TRPV1 agonist. Topical application at high concentration (high concentration, >1%) induces a reversible disappearance of epidermal free nerve endings and is used to treat peripheral neuropathic pain (PNP). While the benefit of low-concentration capsaicin remains controversial, the 8%-capsaicin patch (Qutenza®, 2010, Astellas, Netherlands) has shown its effectiveness. This patch is, however, costly and natural high-concentration capsaicinoid solutions may represent a cheaper alternative to pure capsaicin. Methods. In this retrospective study, 149 patients were screened, 132 were included with a diagnosis of neuropathic pain, and eighty-four were retained in the final analyses (median age: 57.5 years [IQR25–75: 44.7–67.1], male/female: 30/54) with PNP who were treated with topical applications of natural high-concentration capsaicinoid solutions (total number of applications: 137). Indications were postsurgical PNP (85.7%) and nonsurgical PNP (14.3%) (posttraumatic, HIV-related, postherpetic, and radicular PNP). Objectives. To assess the feasibility of topical applications of natural high-concentration capsaicinoid solutions for the treatment of PNP. Results. The median treated area was 250 cm2 [IQR25–75: 144–531]. The median amount of capsaicinoids was 55.1 mg [IQR25–75: 28.7–76.5] per plaster and the median concentration was 172.3 μg/cm2 [IQR25–75: 127.6–255.2]. Most patients had local adverse effects on the day of treatment, such as mild to moderate burning pain and erythema. 13.6–19.4% of the patients experienced severe pain or erythema. Following treatment, 62.5% of patients reported a lower pain intensity or a smaller pain surface, and 35% reported a sustained pain relief lasting for at least 4 weeks. Conclusion. Analgesic topical treatment with natural high-concentration capsaicinoid is feasible and may represent a low cost alternative to alleviate PNP in clinical practice.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9703036
spellingShingle Fanny Bauchy
Andre Mouraux
Ronald Deumens
Marjolein Leerink
Antonio Ulpiano Trillig
Bernard le Polain de Waroux
Arnaud Steyaert
Quetin-Leclercq Joëlle
Patrice Forget
Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis
Pain Research and Management
title Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis
title_full Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis
title_fullStr Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis
title_short Feasibility of Topical Applications of Natural High-Concentration Capsaicinoid Solutions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Retrospective Analysis
title_sort feasibility of topical applications of natural high concentration capsaicinoid solutions in patients with peripheral neuropathic pain a retrospective analysis
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/9703036
work_keys_str_mv AT fannybauchy feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT andremouraux feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT ronalddeumens feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT marjoleinleerink feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT antonioulpianotrillig feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT bernardlepolaindewaroux feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT arnaudsteyaert feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT quetinleclercqjoelle feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis
AT patriceforget feasibilityoftopicalapplicationsofnaturalhighconcentrationcapsaicinoidsolutionsinpatientswithperipheralneuropathicpainaretrospectiveanalysis