Evidences for antinociceptive effect of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in carpal tunnel syndrome

Injection therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Various injectants are available for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. This systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of different injection therapies in alleviating the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Various databases were searched for relevant studies from inception until May 10, 2023. Eligible studies were identified using the patient (P), intervention (I), comparison (C), and outcomes (O) model, which involved (P) participants with carpal tunnel syndrome, (I) an intervention based on injection therapy, (C) the use of placebo or another injectant as a control treatment, and (O) the measurement of clinical and electrodiagnostic outcomes of interest. A total of 18 studies were included in the analysis. The network meta-analysis revealed that platelet-rich plasma is effective in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome in terms of symptom and pain relief and functional improvement in both the short and long term, whereas steroids are effective only in the short term. Additionally, injections of dextrose solution may offer long-term pain relief as well as short- and long-term symptom alleviation and functional improvement. The study findings suggest that platelet-rich plasma should be used as the first-line treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, with dextrose and steroids serving as alternative treatment options.

Local corticosteroid injection versus placebo for carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a very common clinical syndrome manifested by signs and symptoms of irritation of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Direct and indirect costs of CTS are substantial, with estimated costs of two billion US dollars for CTS surgery in the USA in 1995 alone. Local corticosteroid injection has been used as a non-surgical treatment for CTS many years, but its effectiveness is still debated.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the benefits and harms of corticosteroids injected in or around the carpal tunnel for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome compared to no treatment or a placebo injection.

SEARCH METHODS

We used standard, extensive Cochrane search Methods. The searches were 7 June 2020 and 26 May 2022.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-randomised trials of adults with CTS that included at least one comparison group of local injection of corticosteroid (LCI) into the wrist and one group that received a placebo or no treatment.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard Cochrane methods. Our primary outcome was 1. improvement in symptoms at up to three months of follow-up. Our secondary outcomes were 2. functional improvement, 3. improvement in symptoms at greater than three months of follow-up, 4. improvement in neurophysiological parameters, 5. improvement in imaging parameters, 6. requirement for carpal tunnel surgery, 7. improvement in quality of life and 8.

ADVERSE EVENTS

We used GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence for each outcome.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 14 trials with 994 participants/hands with CTS. Only nine studies (639 participants/hands) had useable data quantitatively and in general, these studies were at low risk of bias except for one quite high-risk study. The trials were conducted in hospital-based clinics across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. All trials used participant-reported outcome measures for symptoms, function and quality of life. There is probably an improvement in symptoms measured at up to three months of follow-up favouring LCI (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.94 to -0.59; 8 RCTs, 579 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Up to six months this was still evident favouring LCI (SMD -0.58, 95% CI -0.89 to -0.28; 4 RCTs, 234 participants/hands; moderate-certainty evidence). There is probably an improvement in function measured at up to three months favouring LCI (SMD -0.62, 95% CI -0.87 to -0.38; 7 RCTs, 499 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). We are uncertain if there is a difference in median nerve DML at up to three months of follow-up (mean difference (MD) -0.37 ms, 95% CI -0.75 to 0.02; 6 RCTs, 359 participants/hands; very low-certainty evidence). The requirement for surgery probably reduces slightly in the LCI group at one year (risk ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.98; 1 RCT, 111 participants, moderate-certainty evidence). Quality of life, measured at up to three months of follow-up using the Short-Form 6 Dimensions questionnaire (scale from 0.29 to 1.0; higher is better) probably improved slightly in the LCI group (MD 0.07, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.12; 1 RCT, 111 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). Adverse events were uncommon (low-certainty evidence). One study reported 2/364 injections resulted in severe pain which resolved over "several weeks" and 1/364 injections caused a "sympathetic reaction" with a cool, pale hand that completely resolved in 20 minutes. One study (111 participants) reported no serious adverse events, but 65% of LCI-injected and 16% of the placebo-injected participants experienced mild-to-moderate pain lasting less than two weeks. About 9% of participants experienced localised swelling lasting less than two weeks. Four studies (229 participants) reported that they experienced no adverse events in their studies. Three studies (220 participants) did not specifically report adverse events.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Local corticosteroid injection is effective for the treatment of mild and moderate CTS with benefits lasting up to six months and a reduced need for surgery up to 12 months. Where serious adverse events were reported, they were rare.

Efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A network meta-analysis of different injection treatments

Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common form of median nerve compression in the wrist caused by focal peripheral neuropathy. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy could improve the healing ability by exposing the injured tissues to high concentrations of autologous growth factors. Our study aims to compare all injective treatments for CTS and assess the efficacy and priority of PRP therapy. Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane databases, and Clinicaltrial.gov until 17 October 2022. We only included data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated PRP injection therapy or drug injection therapy. The included RCTs measured at least one of the following three outcomes with validated instruments: in the visual analog scale (VAS), symptom severity scale (SSS), and functional status scale (FSS). Results: Overall, 19 studies with 1,066 patients were included in this study. We used the SUCRA rankings to determine the merits of various therapies. In all, 5% dextrose injections were the best treatment strategy for the VAS (MD -1.22, 95% CI -2.66 to 0.23; SUCRA = 79.2%), followed by triamcinolone (high-dose) injections (MD -0.69, 95% CI -2.11 to 0.73; SUCRA = 62.7%) and PRP injections (MD -0.39, 95% CI -1.67 to 0.89; SUCRA = 60.0%). In the SSS, the most effective intervention was hydroxyprogesterone injections (MD -0.62, 95% CI -1.09 to -0.16; SUCRA = 91.0%). The SUCRA ranking of PRP was second only to steroids and estrogen (MD -0.39, 95% CI -0.60 to -0.18; SUCRA = 60.8%). In the FSS, the best regimen strategy was hydroxyprogesterone injections (MD 0.12, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.54; SUCRA = 99.5%), followed by triamcinolone (low-dose) injections (MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.54 to 0.49; SUCRA = 87.4%) and PRP injections (MD -0.26, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.09; SUCRA = 77.1%). Conclusion: PRP is an alternative choice for CTS treatment. PRP injection is second only to steroids and estrogen in the treatment efficacy of CTS, with a wide indication and safe outcome.

Progesterone: A Steroid with Wide Range of Effects in Physiology as Well as Human Medicine

Progesterone is a steroid hormone traditionally linked with female fertility and pregnancy. In current reproductive medicine, progesterone and its analogues play crucial roles. While the discovery of its effects has a long history, over recent decades, various novel actions of this interesting steroid have been documented, of which its neuro- and immunoprotective activities are the most widely discussed. Discoveries of the novel biological activities of progesterone have also driven research and development in the field of progesterone analogues used in human medicine. Progestogen treatment has traditionally and predominately been used in maintaining pregnancy, the prevention of preterm labor, various gynecological pathologies, and in lowering the negative effects of menopause. However, there are also various other medical fields where progesterone and its analogues could find application in the future. The aim of this work is to show the mechanisms of action of progesterone and its metabolites, the physiological and pharmacological actions of progesterone and its synthetic analogues in human medicine, as well as the impacts of its production and use on the environment.

Sigma-1 receptors and progesterone metabolizing enzymes in nociceptive sensory neurons of the female rat trigeminal ganglia: A neural substrate for the antinociceptive actions of progesterone

Orofacial pain disorders are predominately experienced by women. Progesterone, a major ovarian hormone, is neuroprotective and antinociceptive. We recently reported that progesterone attenuates estrogen-exacerbated orofacial pain behaviors, yet it remains unclear what anatomical substrate underlies progesterone's activity in the trigeminal system. Progesterone has been reported to exert protective effects through actions at intracellular progesterone receptors (iPR), membrane-progesterone receptors (mPR), or sigma 1 receptors (Sig-1R). Of these, the iPR and Sig-1R have been reported to have a role in pain. Progesterone can also have antinociceptive effects through its metabolite, allopregnanolone. Two enzymes, 5α-reductase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-HSD), are required for the metabolism of progesterone to allopregnanolone. Both progesterone and allopregnanolone rapidly attenuate pain sensitivity, implicating action of either progesterone at Sig-1R and/or conversion to allopregnanolone which targets GABAA receptors. In the present study, we investigated whether Sig-1 Rs are expressed in nociceptors within the trigeminal ganglia of cycling female rats and whether the two enzymes required for progesterone metabolism to allopregnanolone, 5α-reductase and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, are also present. Adult female rats from each stage of the estrous cycle were rapidly decapitated and the trigeminal ganglia collected. Trigeminal ganglia were processed by either fluorescent immunochemistry or western blotting to for visualization and quantification of Sig-1R, 5α-reductase, and 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Here we report that Sig-1Rs and both enzymes involved in progesterone metabolism are highly expressed in a variety of nociceptive sensory neuron populations in the female rat trigeminal ganglia at similar levels across the four stages of the estrous cycle. These data indicate that trigeminal sensory neurons are an anatomical substrate for the reported antinociceptive activity of progesterone via Sig-1R and/or conversion to allopregnanolone.

Anti-allodynic and anti-inflammatory effects of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is a disabling condition induced by several frequently used chemotherapeutic drugs including the front-line agent oxaliplatin (OXA). Symptoms are predominantly sensory with the development of neuropathic pain. Alternative dosing protocols and treatment discontinuation are the only available therapeutic strategies. The aim of our work was to evaluate the potential of a synthetic derivative of progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (HPGC), in the prevention and treatment of OXA-evoked painful neuropathy. We also evaluated glial activation at the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord levels as a possible target mechanism underlying HPGC actions. Male rats were injected with OXA and HPGC following a prophylactic (HPGCp) or therapeutic (HPGCt) scheme (starting either before or after chemotherapy). The development of hypersensitivity and allodynic pain and the expression of neuronal and glial activation markers were evaluated. When compared to control animals, those receiving OXA showed a significant decrease in paw mechanical and thermal thresholds, with the development of allodynia. Animals treated with HPGCp showed patterns of response similar to those detected in control animals, while those treated with HPGCt showed a suppression of both hypersensitivities after HPGC administration. We also observed a significant increase in the mRNA levels of activating transcription factor 3, the transcription factor (c-fos), glial fibrillary acidic protein, ionized calcium binding adaptor protein 1, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) in DRG and spinal cord of OXA-injected animals, and significantly lower levels in rats receiving OXA and HPGC. These results show that HPGC administration reduces neuronal and glial activation markers and is able to both prevent and suppress OXA-induced allodynia, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy.

New candidates for treatment and management of carpal tunnel syndrome based on the Persian Canon of Medicine

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is defined as a compressing median mononeuropathy. CTS is one of the major costly debilitating diseases of the hand. Although CTS is a relatively recent concept in current medicine, some evidences show that medieval physicians in Persian medicine (PM) such as Avicenna were familiar with it. The PM textbook written by Avicenna, the Canon of Medicine, defines the anatomy of carpal tunnel and median nerve, as well as mononeuropathy; it also offers suggestions for the prevention and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (called as Vaja al-asab and Khadar) in the chapter of nerve diseases. The book describes not only symptoms including pain, paresthesia, hypoesthesia, tingling, and numbness, but also its etiology such as nerve compression (entrapment neuropathy); nonphysical reasons such as disturbed balance among the four body humors; alteration in the nerve's temperament (Mizaj) that prevents the transmission of nerve impulses; and the others such as nutrition, mental condition, sleep, weather condition, body movements, and proper disposal of body waste. Furthermore, the book suggests a lifestyle modification method based on six factors and 10 prescriptions composed with 85 natural products that are not actively used for CTS treatment in modern times. The medicinal suggestions for CTS in the Canon of Medicine will be good candidates for discovering new treatments besides providing historical significance to the various insights considered 1000 years ago.

Effectiveness of Oral Pain Medication and Corticosteroid Injections for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

To present an evidence-based overview of the effectiveness of oral pain medication and corticosteroid injections to treat carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

DATA SOURCES

The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database were searched for relevant systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers independently applied the inclusion criteria to select potential studies.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently extracted the data on pain (visual analog scale), function or recovery, and assessed the methodologic quality.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A best-evidence synthesis was performed to summarize the results of the included studies. Four reviews and 9 RCTs were included. For oral pain medication, strong and moderate evidence was found for the effectiveness of oral steroids versus placebo in the short term. Moderate evidence was found in favor of oral steroids versus splinting in the short term. No evidence was found for the effectiveness of oral steroids in the long term. For corticosteroid injections, strong evidence was found in favor of a corticosteroid injection versus a placebo injection and moderate evidence was found in favor of corticosteroid injection versus oral steroids in the short term. Also, in the short term, moderate evidence was found in favor of a local versus a systematic corticosteroid injection. Higher doses of corticosteroid injections seem to be more effective in the midterm; however, the benefits of corticosteroid injections were not maintained in the long term.

CONCLUSIONS

The reviewed evidence supports that oral steroids and corticosteroid injections benefit patient with CTS particularly in the short term. Although a higher dose of steroid injections seems to be more effective in the midterm, the benefits of oral pain medication and corticosteroid injections were not maintained in the long term.

Randomized controlled trial of local progesterone vs corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome

OBJECTIVES

A number of studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of progesterone and its influence on the recovery after neural injury. Few studies investigated the efficacy of local progesterone in carpal tunnel syndrome. The objective of this study was to compare the long-term effects of progesterone vs corticosteroid local injections in patients with mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome.

METHODS

In this randomized clinical trial, 78 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome were assigned to two groups. Patients were treated with a single local injection of triamcinolone acetonide in one group and single local injection of hydroxy progesterone in the other group. Variables including pain (based on visual analogue scale), symptom severity, and functional status (based on Bostone/Levine symptom severity and functional status scale) and nerve conduction study were evaluated before and 6 months after the treatments.

RESULTS

All outcome measures including pain and electrophysiologic findings, improved in both groups and there were no meaningful differences between two groups regarding mentioned variables except for functional outcome, which was significantly better in progesterone compared with corticosteroid group at 6-month follow-up (P=.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The efficacy of progesterone local injection in mild and moderate CTS is equal and somehow superior to corticosteroid injection for relieving symptoms and improving functional and electrophysiologic findings at long-term follow-up.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and management

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome worldwide. The clinical symptoms and physical examination findings in patients with this syndrome are recognised widely and various treatments exist, including non-surgical and surgical options. Despite these advantages, there is a paucity of evidence about the best approaches for assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome and to guide treatment decisions. More objective methods for assessment, including electrodiagnostic testing and nerve imaging, provide additional information about the extent of axonal involvement and structural change, but their exact benefit to patients is unknown. Although the best means of integrating clinical, functional, and anatomical information for selecting treatment choices has not yet been identified, patients can be diagnosed quickly and respond well to treatment. The high prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome, its effects on quality of life, and the cost that disease burden generates to health systems make it important to identify the research priorities that will be resolved in clinical trials.

Neuroactive steroids, nociception and neuropathic pain: A flashback to go forward

The present review discusses the potential role of neurosteroids/neuroactive steroids in the regulation of nociceptive and neuropathic pain, and recapitulates the current knowledge on the main mechanisms involved in the reduction of pain, especially those occurring at the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, a crucial site for nociceptive processing. We will make special focus on progesterone and its derivative allopregnanolone, which have been shown to exert remarkable actions in order to prevent or reverse the maladaptive changes and pain behaviors that arise after nervous system damage in various experimental neuropathic conditions.

Comparison between the effects of progesterone versus corticosteroid local injections in mild and moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial

Background

The objective of this study was to compare the short-term effects of progesterone and corticosteroid local injections in the treatment of female patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Methods

A randomized clinical trial was used for this study, 60 hands with mild and moderate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome categorized in two groups were used for this study. Patients were treated with a single local injection of triamcinolone acetonide in one group and single local injection of 17-alpha hydroxy progesterone in the other group. Variables such as pain (based on Visual Analogue Scale), symptom severity and functional status (based on Bostone/Levine symptom severity and functional status scale) and nerve conduction study were evaluated before and 10 weeks after the treatments.

Results

Ten weeks after treatment, pain severity and median nerve sensory and motor latencies decreased while patients’ functional status increased meaningfully in both groups. However, there were no meaningful differences between two groups regarding mentioned variables. Pain severity was milder and duration of post-injection pain was shorter in the corticosteroid group. The rates of patient satisfaction were also meaningfully higher in the corticosteroid group.

Conclusions

Both treatments were effective in the short-term management of mild and moderate disease, clinically and electrophysiologically. There were no significant differences in therapeutic effects between two groups.

Trial registration

Current controlled trials IRCT2013101313442N4

Cochrane corner: local corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome

BACKGROUND

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a clinical syndrome manifested by signs and symptoms of irritation of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel in the wrist. Local corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome has been studied but its effectiveness is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of local corticosteroid injection for carpal tunnel syndrome versus placebo injection or other non-surgical interventions.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Trials register (searched May 2006), MEDLINE (searched January 1966 to May 2006), EMBASE (searched January 1980 to May 2006) and CINAHL (searched January 1982 to May 2006).

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomized or quasi-randomized studies.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Three authors independently selected the trials and rated their overall quality. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each trial and summary relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were also calculated.

Ectopic uterine tissue as a chronic pain generator

While chronic pain is a main symptom in endometriosis, the underlying mechanisms and effective therapy remain elusive. We developed an animal model enabling the exploration of ectopic endometrium as a source of endometriosis pain. Rats were surgically implanted with autologous uterus in the gastrocnemius muscle. Within two weeks, visual inspection revealed the presence of a reddish-brown fluid-filled cystic structure at the implant site. Histology demonstrated cystic glandular structures with stromal invasion of the muscle. Immunohistochemical studies of these lesions revealed the presence of markers for nociceptor nerve fibers and neuronal sprouting. Fourteen days after surgery rats exhibited persistent mechanical hyperalgesia at the site of the ectopic endometrial lesion. Intralesional, but not contralateral, injection of progesterone was dose-dependently antihyperalgesic. Systemic administration of leuprolide also produced antihyperalgesia. In vivo electrophysiological recordings from sensory neurons innervating the lesion revealed a significant increase in their response to sustained mechanical stimulation. These results are consistent with clinical and pathological findings observed in patients with endometriosis, compatible with the ectopic endometrium as a source of pain. This model of endometriosis allows mechanistic exploration at the lesion site facilitating our understanding of endometriosis pain.