Correlation between Nerve Conduction Velocity and Clinical Parameters in Patients with Neuralgic Upper Limb Pain Treated with Pregabalin and Gabapentin

Abstract

Background: Neuralgic pain in the upper limb may affect clinical function and peripheral nerve conduction. Its management is often with Pregabalin and Gabapentin.

Methods: 60 patients were included in a comparative study, with 30 patients in each of the treatment groups. Pain and neuropathic symptoms were measured by Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Pain Detect Questionnaire (PDQ) at baseline, 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Bilateral motor and sensory nerve conduction parameters of median, radial, and ulnar nerves were also evaluated.

Results: A significant reduction in NRS and PDQ scores was seen in both groups over 6 weeks (p<0.001). Median and ulnar nerve conduction parameters were broadly similar in the two groups. There were no significant differences between the groups. In general, correlations between nerve conduction parameters and NRS/PDQ were weak.

Conclusion: Both Pregabalin and Gabapentin groups showed an improvement in the clinical parameters during the follow-up with more or less similar electrophysiological findings. Further studies with larger sample sizes may provide additional evidence for the association between clinical improvement and nerve conduction changes.