Longstanding Complex Regional Pain can be incredibly difficult to treat. Now Immunoglobulin Infusions have been shown to drop pains scores by 1.55 units.
Intravenous Immunoglobulin Treatment of the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome A Randomized Trial. Andreas Goebelet al. Ann Intern Med. 2010;152:152-158. abstract here
- CRPS for 6-30 months
- 2 consecutive infusions – a total immunoglobulin dose of 0.5 g/kg (0.25 g/kg per day)
- “Five patients (42%) had median pain scores that were at least 2 points lower with IVIG than with saline, and 3 of these patients had median pain scores that were at least 50% lower. One patient reported a median pain score 2 points lower after saline administration than after IVIG. Ongoing pain relief after the first infusion required delay of the second infusion in 4 patients (3 patients after IVIG)”
- headaches and ache post infusion were common – patients need to be warned of this temporarly flare and take measures to control it.
Comment – look encouraging