Treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy with pamidronate: 29 cases.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of treatment with pamidronate in reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) refractory to previous treatment.

METHODS:

We studied the response (disappearance of pain and functional improvement) to pamidronate (60 mg/day for 3 days) in 29 patients with RSD refractory to previous treatment for at least 14 days.

RESULTS:

On day 45, complete pain disappearance was observed in 86.2% of patients and functional improvement in 70%. The mean delay until the pain disappeared was 20+/-14 days and the delay until functional improvement was observed was 29+/-18 days. The mean delay of functional improvement was shorter in patients with post-traumatic RSD. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any factor predictive of response to treatment. Six (20.7%) patients suffered from side-effects (fever, diarrhoea).

CONCLUSION:

Pamidronate appeared to be effective in the treatment of refractory RSD; however, these results need to be confirmed by a controlled placebo study.

• Authors: I Kubalek, O Fain, J Paries, A Kettaneh, M Thomas
• Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) (Rheumatology (Oxford)) Vol. 40 Issue 12 Pg. 1394-7 (Dec 2001) ISSN: 1462-0324 [Print] England
• PMID: 11752511 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Diphosphonates
• Pamidronate

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Diphosphonates (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multivariate Analysis
• Pamidronate
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (drug therapy)