Intravenous lidocaine for the treatment of intractable pain of adiposis dolorosa.

Abstract

Adiposis dolorosa (Dercum's disease) is a syndrome of painful adipose tissue which occurs most often in post-menopausal women and is associated with obesity, asthenia, and emotional disturbances. The etiology is uncertain, but is probably multifactorial. Numerous treatments to relieve the pain have generally been unsuccessful. A patient with adiposis dolorosa was treated with intravenous infusions of lidocaine over a two-year period. Relief from pain lasted from two to 12 months after each infusion. A single-blind placebo infusion did not relieve the pain. Lidocaine infusions did not relieve the pain of diabetic neuropathy or of angina in this patient. The mechanism of relief of pain of adiposis dolorosa by lidocaine is uncertain, but previously reported central effects of lidocaine suggest that alterations in the central nervous system may be responsible.

• Authors: R L Atkinson
• Journal: International journal of obesity (Int J Obes) Vol. 6 Issue 4 Pg. 351-7 ( 1982) England
• PMID: 7129748 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Lidocaine

Topics

• Adiposis Dolorosa (complications, drug therapy)
• Female
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Lidocaine (administration & dosage)
• Middle Aged
• Pain, Intractable (drug therapy, etiology)
• Placebos
• Time Factors