Intravenous regional guanethidine in the treatment of reflex sympathetic dystrophy/causalgia: a randomized, double-blind study. Guanethidine Study Group.

Abstract

This double-blind, randomized, multicenter study was designed to determine the short-term and long-term efficacy of intravenous regional block with guanethidine in patients with reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD)/causalgia. Sixty patients were enrolled to receive four intravenous regional blocks at 4-day intervals with either guanethidine or placebo in 0.5% lidocaine. Each patient was randomized to receive either one, two, or four blocks with guanethidine. Follow-up visits were scheduled for 4 days, 1 mo, 3 mo, and 6 mo after their final block. At 4 days after the initial block, the group treated with placebo experienced a greater decrease in pain scores than those treated with guanethidine, although this difference was not statistically significant. On long-term followup there was no difference in pain scores between groups receiving one, two, or four guanethidine blocks. Overall, only 35% of patients experienced clinically significant relief on long-term followup even though all were treated early in the evolution of RSD.

• Authors: S Ramamurthy, J Hoffman
• Journal: Anesthesia and analgesia (Anesth Analg) Vol. 81 Issue 4 Pg. 718-23 (Oct 1995) ISSN: 0003-2999 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7574000 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Sympatholytics
• Guanethidine

Topics

• Adult
• Causalgia (therapy)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Guanethidine (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Injections, Intravenous
• Male
• Nerve Block
• Pain Measurement
• Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (therapy)
• Sympatholytics (administration & dosage)