Pregabalin Is Similar to Placebo for HIV-Related Neuropathy

Neuropathic pain improved substantially with both pregabalin and placebo.

Some of the characteristic sequelae of late-stage HIV infection have almost disappeared from the average clinician's office. However, peripheral neuropathy persists and can be extremely difficult to treat.

In a manufacturer-supported multicenter blinded study, 302 HIV-positive patients with neurologist-confirmed peripheral neuropathy were randomized to daily placebo or pregabalin (≤600 mg) for 14 weeks. The average study participant had been HIV-positive (CD4 count, ~450 cells/mm³; viral load, <20,000 copies/mL) for more than a decade and had complained of neuropathic symptoms for more than half that time. Stable regimens of background pain medication were allowed throughout the study.

During the first 2 weeks, the pregabalin group experience…

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose