Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reduced neuropathic pain associated with thoracic compression myelopathy: report of two cases.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of neuroprotective therapy using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for patients with worsening symptoms of compression myelopathy. During this trial, we found that neuropathic pain associated with thoracic myelopathy was dramatically reduced after G-CSF administration in two cases.

FINDINGS:

A 32-year-old man with compression of the spinal cord at levels T7-T10 complained of spastic gait associated with spontaneous severe pain from his back to his chest. G-CSF 10 µg/kg/day was administered for 5 consecutive days; his pain was reduced 1 day after the initial G-CSF administration. One month after administration, he underwent spinal fusion surgery for decompression of the spinal cord. Six months after G-CSF administration, he showed recovery from myelopathy and no recurrence of pain. A 68-year-old man with spastic gait and bilateral thigh pain caused by ossified ligamentum flavum at T11-T12 was treated with G-CSF 10 µg/kg/day for 5 days; his pain was reduced 1 day after initial administration. One month later, he underwent a T10-T12 laminectomy. Three months after G-CSF administration, his thigh pain began to attenuate. At 6 months after administration, he showed recovery from myelopathy, and his pain was still improved compared with that before administration.

CONCLUSION:

G-CSF may have a therapeutic effect on spinal neuropathic pain.

• Authors: Masashi Yamazaki, Tsuyoshi Sakuma, Kei Kato, Takeo Furuya, Masao Koda
• Journal: The journal of spinal cord medicine (J Spinal Cord Med) Vol. 36 Issue 1 Pg. 40-3 (Jan 2013) ISSN: 1079-0268 [Print] England
• PMID: 23433334 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Neuroprotective Agents
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic
• Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
• Decompression, Surgical
• Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Neuralgia (drug therapy, etiology, surgery)
• Neuroprotective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Orthopedic Procedures
• Spinal Cord Compression (complications, drug therapy, surgery)
• Thoracic Vertebrae (pathology, surgery)