Gabapentin Studies for Off-Label Uses Cooked? (CME/CE)
Sunday, November 8th, 2009
Primary outcome measures were apparently a moving target in many company-sponsored studies of gabapentin (Neurontin) for off-label uses such as neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder, researchers have suggested. Eight of 12 studies of gabapentin… full story
Tarlov Cyst Research Information
Tarlov cyst researcher, Anne Louise Oaklander, M.D., PhD., has shared the following initial research project goals.
Tarlov Cyst Research: Specific Goals
- Identify patients with Tarlov cysts utilizing large patient databases
- Compare identified TC patients to those of the population at large to identify demographics (gender, age, race) and medical co-morbidities associated with Tarlov cysts
- Test several hypotheses including gender association, parity, connective tissue disorders, history of back injury/trauma, and infection by viruses that damage spinal sensory ganglia
- Determine prevalence of all medical complaints and illnesses of TC patients and compare with an age and sex matched control cohort with normal lumbosacral imaging.
- Examine the disease history within the year prior to radiologic discovery of the Tarlov cysts
- Undertake an unbiased case-control study comparing patients with symptomatic Tarlov cysts and asymptomatic Tarlov cysts
- Investigate whether specific radiological features of Tarlov cysts correlate with the symptoms present. (Outcome variables will comprise cyst location, maximum visualized diameter, absence or presence of free communication with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as determined from flow study or comparing T2 MRI signal in cyst fluid and CSF).
- Measure correlations between radiological variables and the presence of neurogenic bladder or bowel, chronic leg pain paresthesias, chronic pelvic or perineal pain, low back pain,(and sensory dermatomes
- Find radiological markers for increased risk of symptom development to assist in identifying patients who merit closer observation or those who should be considered for treatment of existing symptoms
- Determine if Tarlov cyst patients’ neuropathic pain is less recognized and treated than neuropathic pain associated with better recognized syndromes such as diabetic neuropathy or postherpetic neuralgia
- Identify cohorts of patients with chronic nerve pain and compare what proportion have had their pain treated by any measure
- Acquire preliminary information concerning efficacy of specific treatments