Ziconotide trialing by intrathecal bolus injections: An open-label non-randomized clinical trial in postoperative/posttraumatic neuropathic pain patients refractory to conventional treatment

Abstract

Objectives The aim of this open-label, non-randomized, clinical trial was to evaluate the feasibility of trialing ziconotide by intrathecal bolus injections. Material and Methods Twenty-three patients, who had peripheral neuropathic pain refractory to pharmacological treatment and were under consideration for Spinal Cord Stimulation, received up to three ziconotide bolus injections according to a comprehensive algorithm. After a first injection of 2.5 μg, the patients progressed in the algorithm depending on the presence or absence of pain reduction and significant adverse events. A patient was considered a "responder" if experiencing pain reduction and no significant adverse event on two consecutive occasions at the same dosage. Results We found a low proportion of responders (13%). However 30% of patients experienced ≥30% pain reduction on a least one injection, yielding a number needed to treat of 3 for clinically significant pain relief. Pain intensity changed significantly over time (0-6 h) (p = 0.047) after a mean ziconotide dose of 2.75 μg. Adverse events were as expected, and no serious adverse event occurred. We did not find any statistical association between response to Spinal Cord Stimulation and response to ziconotide. Conclusions Ziconotide bolus injection trialing seems feasible, but the proportion of responders in the present study was low. Adverse events were as expected, and no serious adverse event occurred. The predictive power of ziconotide bolus trialing remains unclear, and the pharmacological profile of ziconotide (slow tissue penetration due to high hydrophilicity) calls the rationale for bolus trialing into question.