Citations

Objective Peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) is an emerging neuromodulation modality, yet there remains limited data highlighting its long-term effectiveness. The objective of this study was to report real-world data on pain intensity and opioid consumption after temporary and permanent PNS for chronic pain up to 24 months postimplantation. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on all patients who received PNS implants at a multi-centered enterprise between January 1, 2014 and February 24, 2022. The two co-primary outcomes were: (1) change in pain intensity (11-point Numerical Rating Scale) from baseline to 12 months postimplant; and (2) comparison of the change in pain intensity between temporary and permanent PNS cohorts 12 months postimplant. Results 126 patients were included in this analysis. Pain intensity significantly decreased 12 months postimplant in the overall cohort (mean difference (MD) −3.0 (95% CI −3.5 to −2.4), p<0.0001). No significant difference in this reduction was identified between temporary and permanent PNS cohorts (MD 0.0 (95% CI −1.1 to 1.0), p=1.00) 12 months postimplantation. Pain intensity significantly decreased in the overall, temporary, and permanent cohorts at all secondary time points (3, 6, and 24 months). No change in daily opioid consumption was observed at 6 and 12 months postimplant in the overall cohort. Conclusion This study found that both temporary and permanent PNS may be effective for reducing pain intensity in patients with chronic pain up to 24 months postimplantation, although no changes in opioid consumption were observed. The decrease in pain intensity was comparable between patients receiving temporary versus permanent implants, highlighting that temporary PNS may achieve long-lasting clinical benefits. However, given the substantial loss to follow-up, further large-scale studies are needed to solidify conclusions about the efficacy of PNS.

Background There is potential for adverse events from corticosteroid injections, including increase in blood glucose, decrease in bone mineral density and suppression of the hypothalamic–pituitary axis. Published studies note that doses lower than those commonly injected provide similar benefit. Methods Development of the practice guideline was approved by the Board of Directors of American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine with several other societies agreeing to participate. The scope of guidelines was agreed on to include safety of the injection technique (landmark-guided, ultrasound or radiology-aided injections); effect of the addition of the corticosteroid on the efficacy of the injectate (local anesthetic or saline); and adverse events related to the injection. Based on preliminary discussions, it was decided to structure the topics into three separate guidelines as follows: (1) sympathetic, peripheral nerve blocks and trigger point injections; (2) joints; and (3) neuraxial, facet, sacroiliac joints and related topics (vaccine and anticoagulants). Experts were assigned topics to perform a comprehensive review of the literature and to draft statements and recommendations, which were refined and voted for consensus (≥75% agreement) using a modified Delphi process. The United States Preventive Services Task Force grading of evidence and strength of recommendation was followed. Results This guideline deals with the use and safety of corticosteroid injections for sympathetic, peripheral nerve blocks and trigger point injections for adult chronic pain conditions. All the statements and recommendations were approved by all participants after four rounds of discussion. The Practice Guidelines Committees and Board of Directors of the participating societies also approved all the statements and recommendations. The safety of some procedures, including stellate blocks, lower extremity peripheral nerve blocks and some sites of trigger point injections, is improved by imaging guidance. The addition of non-particulate corticosteroid to the local anesthetic is beneficial in cluster headaches but not in other types of headaches. Corticosteroid may provide additional benefit in transverse abdominal plane blocks and ilioinguinal/iliohypogastric nerve blocks in postherniorrhaphy pain but there is no evidence for pudendal nerve blocks. There is minimal benefit for the use of corticosteroids in trigger point injections. Conclusions In this practice guideline, we provided recommendations on the use of corticosteroids in sympathetic blocks, peripheral nerve blocks, and trigger point injections to assist clinicians in making informed decisions.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Although frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with right anterior temporal lobe (RATL) predominance has been recognized, a uniform description of the syndrome is still missing. This multicenter study aims to establish a cohesive clinical phenotype. METHODS Retrospective clinical data from 18 centers across 12 countries yielded 360 FTD patients with predominant RATL atrophy through initial neuroimaging assessments. RESULTS Common symptoms included mental rigidity/preoccupations (78%), disinhibition/socially inappropriate behavior (74%), naming/word‐finding difficulties (70%), memory deficits (67%), apathy (65%), loss of empathy (65%), and face‐recognition deficits (60%). Real‐life examples unveiled impairments regarding landmarks, smells, sounds, tastes, and bodily sensations (74%). Cognitive test scores indicated deficits in emotion, people, social interactions, and visual semantics however, lacked objective assessments for mental rigidity and preoccupations. DISCUSSION This study cumulates the largest RATL cohort unveiling unique RATL symptoms subdued in prior diagnostic guidelines. Our novel approach, combining real‐life examples with cognitive tests, offers clinicians a comprehensive toolkit for managing these patients. Highlights This project is the first international collaboration and largest reported cohort. Further efforts are warranted for precise nomenclature reflecting neural mechanisms. Our results will serve as a clinical guideline for early and accurate diagnoses.

Abstract Background Gabapentin, a widely prescribed medication for various neuropathic pain conditions, has demonstrated efficacy in managing diverse neurological disorders. While conventional side effects are well‐documented, a growing body of evidence suggests the existence of atypical side effects, necessitating comprehensive exploration. This paper aims to systematically review and summarize the literature on the atypical side effects of gabapentin, shedding light on manifestations beyond the conventional spectrum. Methods A systematic review was conducted, encompassing peer‐reviewed articles published up to the knowledge cutoff date in November 2023. Databases, specifically PubMed, were searched for relevant studies, focusing on atypical side effects such as myoclonus, ataxia, pediatric aggression, respiratory depression, pneumonia, pregnancy complications, sleep interference, encephalopathy, peripheral edema, suicidal ideation, dyskinesia, anorgasmia, and myopathy. Inclusion criteria comprised studies with a focus on gabapentin‐related atypical side effects, published in recognized journals and involving human subjects. Results The review identified a spectrum of atypical side effects associated with gabapentin use, ranging from neurological manifestations like myoclonus and ataxia to behavioral changes such as pediatric aggression and suicidal ideation. Additionally, respiratory complications, pregnancy‐related issues, sleep disturbances, and rare complications like encephalopathy and myopathy were observed. Literature synthesis provided insights into the incidence, clinical presentation, and potential mechanisms underlying these atypical side effects. Conclusion This comprehensive review highlights the diverse range of atypical side effects associated with gabapentin use, expanding beyond conventional knowledge. Healthcare practitioners must be cognizant of these manifestations, recognizing their potential impact on patient well‐being. As clinical decision‐making relies on a thorough understanding of a medication's side effect profile, this review contributes to enhancing awareness and fostering informed practices in the prescription and management of gabapentin. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms and risk factors associated with these atypical side effects, refining our understanding of gabapentin's safety profile.

Background The efficacy of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in chronic pain studies is traditionally assessed by pain scores, which do not reflect the multidimensional nature of pain perception. Despite the evidence of SCS’s influence on emotional functioning comprehensive assessments of its effect remain lacking. Objective To assess changes in emotional and psychosocial functioning in patients who underwent SCS implantation for chronic pain. Evidence review Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL and Scopus databases were searched for original peer-reviewed publications reporting emotional functioning after SCS. The primary outcomes were a pooled mean difference (MD) in anxiety, depression, global functioning, mental well-being and pain catastrophizing at 12 months. The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to determine the quality of evidence. Findings Thirty-two studies were included in the primary analysis. Statistically significant improvements were observed in anxiety (MD −2.16; 95% CI −2.84 to −1.49; p<0.001), depression (MD −4.66; 95% CI −6.26 to −3.06; p<0.001), global functioning (MD 20.30; 95% CI 14.69 to 25.90; p<0.001), mental well-being (MD 4.95; 95% CI 3.60 to 6.31; p<0.001), and pain catastrophizing (MD −12.09; 95% CI −14.94 to −9.23; p<0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed differences in Global Assessment of Functioning and mental well-being based on study design and in depression based on waveform paradigm. Conclusion The results highlight the statistically and clinically significant improvements in emotional and psychosocial outcomes in patients with chronic pain undergoing SCS therapy. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution due to the very low certainty of evidence per the GRADE criteria. PROSPERO registration CRD42023446326.

Well-established guidelines and checklists for authors, reviewers, and readers of systematic reviews and scoping reviews are readily available. However, the availability of such for narrative reviews is lacking, including, but not limited to, field-specific guidelines in the field of anesthesia and pain medicine. In this brief article, we review the differences between the major types of reviews, followed by a more detailed description of narrative reviews that clearly differentiates them from other types of reviews. We include a recommended checklist that will aid producers, editors, reviewers, and consumers of narrative reviews as well as examples specific to the field of anesthesia and pain medicine. It is the hope that the guidelines recommended here will aid producers, editors, reviewers, and consumers of narrative reviews in anesthesia and pain medicine, including Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine. Adherence to such should help differentiate between narrative reviews and other types of reviews as well as provide consistency in what elements are necessary to include in a narrative review in the field of anesthesia and pain medicine.

TPS7575 Background: Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by the production of amyloidgenic clonal light chains that deposit in various tissues. The addition of daratumumab to bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (Dara-VCD) has improved depth of hematologic and organ responses. However, this approach has not yet demonstrated an overall survival (OS) benefit with short follow-up. Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) consolidation remains safe and is associated with deep and durable hematologic responses with an 83% 2-year progression free survival (PFS) and up to 72% of patients achieving a VGPR or better, comparable to Dara-VCD (79%). In multiple myeloma, ASCT improved PFS even in patients who are MRD negative at the end of standard induction therapy. It is thus reasonable to consider that ASCT might provide similar benefits in AL patients. No randomized data exist to inform the optimal use of ASCT in the era of Dara-VCD. Methods: This randomized phase 3 SWOG led intergroup trial will accrue a total of 143 participants per arm and compare MOD-PFS (major organ deterioration progression free survival: defined as time from randomization to death, cardiac/renal progression, or hematologic progression) between participants receiving an ASCT with those receiving Dara-VCD consolidation following uniform Dara-VCD induction. A median MOD-PFS of 31 months is anticipated in the non-ASCT arm. This study has 90% power and a two-sided significance level of 0.05 to detect a hazard ratio of 0.62 corresponding to a MOD-PFS of 50 months in the ASCT arm. Important additional endpoints include OS, hematological PFS, cardiac and renal responses and progression, MRD negativity both by peripheral blood mass spectrometry and bone marrow next generation flow cytometry, delayed utilization of ASCT, and quality of life. This trial was activated on 12/1/2023. Funding: NIH/NCI/NCTN grants and in part by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Clinical trial information: NCT06022939 . [Table: see text]

7541 Background: ABBV-383 is a fully human, B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) × CD3 T-cell–engaging IgG4 bispecific with an effector-silenced Fc region, 2 high-affinity BCMA- and a low-affinity CD3-binding domains. ABBV-383 monotherapy has shown promising activity in patients (pts) with RRMM (Blood 2023;142[suppl 1]:3378). Here, exposure-response (ER) analyses of efficacy and safety endpoints supporting the optimal therapeutic ABBV-383 dose selection are reported in alignment with US FDA’s Project Optimus. Methods: Efficacy (n=218) and safety (n=220) data from the phase 1 study (NCT03933735) escalation cohorts of 0.025 - 120 mg Q3W and expansion cohorts of 20, 40, 60 mg Q3W and 60 mg Q4W including objective response rate (ORR), very good partial response or better (≥VGPR), stringent complete response (sCR)/CR, adverse events (≥G3 and serious), infections (≥G3, overall and serious), cytokine release syndrome (CRS; any-grade, G1, G2, and ≥G2) were modeled. Total(unbound + bound to soluble BCMA) and free (unbound + partially bound to soluble BCMA) Cycle 1 AUCinf, Cmax, and Ctrough and population pharmacokinetic model-derived up to the time of event Cavg and avgCtrough metrics were utilized in the ER analyses (logistic regression; R Version 4.2.2). Relevant pt-specific covariates were tested. Dexamethasone premedication (36 vs 10 mg) was included in CRS models. The ER relationships were utilized to predict the probabilities of efficacy and safety endpoints for relevant doses and thereby, support justification of the optimal therapeutic dose selection. Results: Based on overall assessment, ORR, ≥VGPR, sCR/CR and ≥G3 neutropenia strongly correlated with free Cavg; CRS endpoints (any-grade CRS and G1 only CRS) strongly correlated with Cycle 1 total Cmax (p <0.05). No other endpoints had ER relationships (p >0.05). Only MM type (IgG vs Others) was selected in ≥VGPR and sCR/CR models. ER relationships suggested high response rates of >63% ORR, >53% ≥VGPR, and ≥30% sCR/CR for 40, 60 mg Q3W and 60 mg Q4W. Predictions demonstrated that 20 mg Q3W (<39% ORR and ≥VGPR; <13% sCR/CR) and untested 40 mg Q4W (<60% ORR, <45% ≥VGPR and <23% sCR/CR) provide suboptimal efficacy. The 60 mg Q4W with 36 mg dexamethasone in Cycle1 (limited follow-up and data) was predicted to have ~30% sCR/CR and 31% ≥G3 neutropenia (≈ 40 mg Q3W) and substantially lower any-grade CRS events compared with 40 and 60 mg doses with 10 mg dexamethasone in Cycle 1. Conclusions: While ER analyses indicated promising efficacy and acceptable safety profiles for 40, 60 mg Q3W, and 60 mg Q4W, they support 60 mg Q4W as the optimal ABBV-383 therapeutic dose due to its predicted better therapeutic benefit/risk profile (high response rates, improved/equivalent ≥G3 neutropenia, and lower CRS events) and extended dosing interval. ABBV-383 at 60 mg Q4W will be investigated in the registrational phase 3 trial (NCT06158841) in RRMM.

7532 Background: ABBV-383 is a BCMA x CD3 bispecific antibody with 2 high-affinity BCMA-binding domains and a low-affinity CD3 engaging arm that has been shown to decrease the negative impact of soluble BCMA (sBCMA) and drive sustained T-cell activation with reduced cytokine release in preclinical models of MM. Here, we describe correlative biomarker results of baseline and longitudinal sBCMA levels and immune profiles in the ongoing first-in-human trial that supports 60 mg Q4W as the optimal therapeutic dose of ABBV-383 monotherapy. Methods: Peripheral blood and serum samples from patients with RRMM enrolled in the phase 1 open-label, dose-expansion study (NCT03933735) who received ABBV-383 at 20, 40, or 60 mg Q3W or 60 mg Q4W were collected at baseline (post-dexamethasone, pre–ABBV-383), on treatment, and at disease progression. Samples were analyzed by flow cytometry for immune cell populations, Luminex for cytokines, and electrochemiluminescence ligand binding for sBCMA. Results: Median sBCMA levels at baseline were highly variable among patients, but did not associate with clinical response (≥ partial response [PR]) to ABBV-383 at the selected optimal dose level of 60 mg Q4W (<PR: 244.7 ng/mL; ≥PR: 52.2 ng/mL; P=0.13). Reduction in sBCMA levels over time associated with clinical response (Cmin at cycle 5: <PR, 244.7 ng/mL; ≥PR, 4.7 ng/mL; P=0.04). ABBV-383 treatment led to a rapid and transient increase of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α (Cmax within cycle 1: 29, 349.5, 1375, 456.5 pg/mL, respectively), and promoted T-cell redistribution (89% reduction of CD8+ T cells from periphery), activation (1.9-fold increase in CD69+CD8+ T cells), and proliferation (2-fold increase in Ki67+CD8+ T cells) within cycle 1 in 60-mg Q4W-treated patients. The frequency of baseline CD8+ T-cell exhaustion (PD-1/TIM3) did not impact clinical response at the optimal dose level of 60 mg Q4W ABBV-383 (<PR: 3.5%; ≥PR: 3.9%; P=0.9). Peak induction levels of proinflammatory cytokines during cycle 1 correlated with occurrence of cytokine release syndrome (≥G1) as well as clinical response across dose levels. Conclusions: High-avidity BCMA binding coupled to low-affinity T-cell engagement distinguishes the resulting mechanism of action for ABBV-383. Responses to 60 mg Q4W ABBV-383 were independent of baseline sBCMA levels and resulted in rapid and transient proinflammatory cytokine production that promoted robust T-cell redistribution, activation, and proliferation, indicating that the optimal dose of ABBV-383 maximizes its clinical potential as a convenient, safe, and effective therapy for MM. Clinical trial information: NCT03933735 .