Comparison of Median and Ulnar Nerve Conduction Parameters in Patients with Neuralgic Upper Limb Pain Treated with Pregabalin and Gabapentin

Background: The neuralgic pain of the upper limb is correlated with pain, functional disability and nerve conduction parameters changes. Gabapentin and pregabalin are used frequently in the treatment of neuropathic pain. In the present study we compared the clinical and electrophysiological results of these two treatments. Methods: In this study, 60 patients with neuralgic upper limb pain were studied comparably, divided into Pregabalin (n=30) and Gabapentin (n=30) groups. Nerve conduction studies were performed on the bilateral median and ulnar nerves at baseline, 2 weeks and 6 weeks. Motor and sensory parameters were evaluated and compared between the two groups such as amplitude, latency and conduction velocity. Results: The demographic characteristics of the two groups were comparable. The mean NRS score decreased from 7.16±0.69 to 2.26±1.01 in the Pregabalin group and from 6.83±0.75 to 1.76±0.62 in the Gabapentin group at 6 weeks. The reduction in NRS was statistically significant within both groups (p<0.001). PDQ scores also decreased from 11.96±2.55 to 3.73±2.04 in the Pregabalin group and from 14.90±3.06 to 3.20±1.71 in the Gabapentin group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Both Pregabalin and Gabapentin were associated with improvement in pain and functional disability over the 6 week follow-up period. Nerve conduction parameters in median and ulnar nerves were similar in both treatment groups. Overall, the clinical and electrophysiological results were comparable in both groups.