Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: There is growing evidence supporting the role of inflammatory mechanisms in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Corticoids, as most effective anti-inflammatory drugs, are widely used in treating inflammation. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the efficacy of oral corticoid treatment in CRPS patients.
METHODS: Patients treated at the center of pain medicine in the Erasmus University Medical Centre between January 2015 and January 2020 were approached to partake in this study. Medical records were screened for age, gender, medical history, duration of CRPS, and CRPS severity score. Also, treatment effect, dose and duration, pain scores (NRS), and side effects were extracted from medical records. In addition, global perceived effect was completed in patients treated with corticoids.
RESULTS: Between January 2015 and January 2020, twenty-nine CRPS patients received corticoids and met the inclusion criteria. One extreme outlier was excluded and treatment effect was unknown for one patient. Average daily dose was 28.9 mg (range 10-30 mg) and the mean treatment duration was 10.5 days (7-21 days). Fourteen patients (51.9%) responded positively to treatment and thirteen (48.1%) did not respond. Side effects were reported in five patients (17.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Corticoid treatment was effective in more than half of the patients. With only mild side effects reported the treatment also appears to be relatively safe. Further research is needed to investigate the efficacy of corticoids in treating (early) CRPS, preferably in an intervention study.
METHODS: Patients treated at the center of pain medicine in the Erasmus University Medical Centre between January 2015 and January 2020 were approached to partake in this study. Medical records were screened for age, gender, medical history, duration of CRPS, and CRPS severity score. Also, treatment effect, dose and duration, pain scores (NRS), and side effects were extracted from medical records. In addition, global perceived effect was completed in patients treated with corticoids.
RESULTS: Between January 2015 and January 2020, twenty-nine CRPS patients received corticoids and met the inclusion criteria. One extreme outlier was excluded and treatment effect was unknown for one patient. Average daily dose was 28.9 mg (range 10-30 mg) and the mean treatment duration was 10.5 days (7-21 days). Fourteen patients (51.9%) responded positively to treatment and thirteen (48.1%) did not respond. Side effects were reported in five patients (17.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Corticoid treatment was effective in more than half of the patients. With only mild side effects reported the treatment also appears to be relatively safe. Further research is needed to investigate the efficacy of corticoids in treating (early) CRPS, preferably in an intervention study.
摘要：
目的：越来越多的证据支持炎症机制在复杂区域疼痛综合征（CRPS）中的作用。皮质类固醇,作为最有效的抗炎药，广泛用于治疗炎症。这项研究的目的是回顾性评估CRPS患者口服皮质激素治疗的疗效。
方法：在2015年1月至2020年1月期间在伊拉斯谟大学医学中心疼痛医学中心接受治疗的患者参与了这项研究。对医疗记录进行年龄筛查，性别,病史,CRPS的持续时间，和CRPS严重程度评分。此外，治疗效果,剂量和持续时间，疼痛评分（NRS），副作用从医疗记录中提取。此外,在接受皮质类固醇激素治疗的患者中完成了整体感知效果.
结果：在2015年1月至2020年1月之间，有29名CRPS患者接受了皮质激素并符合纳入标准。排除了一个极端异常值，一名患者的治疗效果未知。平均日剂量为28.9mg（范围10-30mg），平均治疗持续时间为10.5天（7-21天）。14例患者（51.9%）对治疗反应积极，13例（48.1%）无反应。5例患者（17.9%）出现副作用。
结论：糖皮质激素治疗对超过一半的患者有效。据报道，只有轻微的副作用，该治疗似乎也相对安全。需要进一步的研究来研究皮质激素治疗（早期）CRPS的疗效。最好是在干预研究中。
方法：在2015年1月至2020年1月期间在伊拉斯谟大学医学中心疼痛医学中心接受治疗的患者参与了这项研究。对医疗记录进行年龄筛查，性别,病史,CRPS的持续时间，和CRPS严重程度评分。此外，治疗效果,剂量和持续时间，疼痛评分（NRS），副作用从医疗记录中提取。此外,在接受皮质类固醇激素治疗的患者中完成了整体感知效果.
结果：在2015年1月至2020年1月之间，有29名CRPS患者接受了皮质激素并符合纳入标准。排除了一个极端异常值，一名患者的治疗效果未知。平均日剂量为28.9mg（范围10-30mg），平均治疗持续时间为10.5天（7-21天）。14例患者（51.9%）对治疗反应积极，13例（48.1%）无反应。5例患者（17.9%）出现副作用。
结论：糖皮质激素治疗对超过一半的患者有效。据报道，只有轻微的副作用，该治疗似乎也相对安全。需要进一步的研究来研究皮质激素治疗（早期）CRPS的疗效。最好是在干预研究中。
