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Abstract
Please confirm that an ethics committee approval has been applied for or granted: Not relevant
Background and Aims High-concentration (8%) capsaicin patches have shown promise in treating chronic neuropathic pain. Their approved use is limited to neuropathy associated with HIV infection, painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy, or postherpetic neuralgia, and to areas distant from mucous membranes.
Methods We selected two patients (A and B). Patient A had neuropathic pain in the upper lip secondary to radiotherapy. The painful area was marked and the patch cut to size, ensuring mucous membranes were protected. Patient B had neuropathic pain in the right ilioinguinal and genitofemoral area with a painful scar from right inguinal eventroplasty, refractory to botulinum toxin and pulsed radiofrequency treatment. Both patients received three treatment sessions 5 months apart from each other. The patch was applied for 20 minutes to the upper lip and 60 minutes to the inguinal area. The response was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).
Results Patient A: Pre-treatment VAS was 9. After the first application, there was no improvement. During the second application, the patient experienced burning and itching. After the third application, VAS improved to 6. Patient B: Pre-treatment VAS was 7. From the first application, classic adverse symptoms of burning and itching were noticed, followed by improvement days after. After the third application, the VAS was 4.
Upper lip area of neuropathic pain
Qutenza patch applied at the upper lip
Qutenza patch applied at the right inguinal area
Conclusions Qutenza appears effective for neuropathic pain from conditions not included in the technical specifications and in unusual body areas. The treatment response appears to improve with repeated applications. Qutenza shows promise as an alternative for chronic neuropathic pain, warranting further studies to expand its indications.