Efficacy and safety of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in postherpetic neuralgia
10.3760/cma.j.cn115354-20250421-00233
- VernacularTitle:高频重复经颅磁刺激治疗带状疱疹神经痛的临床研究
- Author:
Yu ZHAO
1
;
Xiangyang TANG
;
Zuosheng CHEN
;
Fengming YAO
;
Wei JIANG
;
Fei XU
Author Information
1. 安徽医科大学安庆医学中心，安庆 246003
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation;
High-frequency;
Postherpetic neuralgia;
Primary motor cortex;
Short-form McGill questionnaire;
N100 amplitude
- From:
Chinese Journal of Neuromedicine
2025;24(8):799-805
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (hrTMS) in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed; 63 PHN patients treated in Department of Neurology and Department of Dermatology and Venereology of Anqing Municipal Hospital from June 2024 to March 2025 were enrolled; they were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an hrTMS group ( n=32) received hrTMS (frequency: 10 Hz; total pulses: 2,400; intensity: 90% of resting motor threshold) to the contralateral primary motor cortex (M1), and a sham stimulation group ( n=31) received sham stimulation using a sham figure-of-eight coil generating no actual magnetic field. Scores of short-form McGill pain questionnaires (pain rating index [PRI] total score, PRI sensory subscore, PRI affective subscore, visual analogue scale [VAS] score, present pain intensity [PPI] score) and N100 amplitude were collected before treatment and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment. Adverse events during treatment were recorded. Results:At 2 weeks after treatment, significant difference was observed between the hrTMS group and sham stimulation group in PRI total score, VAS score, and N100 amplitude ( P<0.05). At 3 and 4 weeks after treatment, significant differences were found between the two groups in PRI total score, PRI sensory subscore, PRI affective subscore, VAS score, PPI score and N100 amplitude (3 weeks after treatment: 8.59±1.13 vs. 9.61±1.20, 5.34±0.79 vs. 5.90±0.94, 3.25±0.57 vs. 3.71±0.46, 5.78±0.66 vs. 6.42±0.92, 2.16±0.37 vs. 2.55±0.51, and [2.53±0.51] μV vs. [2.13±0.34] μV; 4 weeks after treatment: 7.53±0.92 vs. 9.68±1.35, 4.94±0.62 vs. 6.00±1.07, 2.59±0.56 vs. 3.68±0.60, 5.06±0.67 vs. 6.23±1.06, 1.97±0.17 vs. 2.52±0.51, and [2.81±0.40] μV vs. [2.16±0.52] μV, P<0.05). In the hrTMS group, PRI total score, PRI sensory subscore, PRI affective subscore, VAS score, PPI score and N100 amplitude were significantly different at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment compared with those before treatment ( P<0.05). Incidence of adverse events (headache, dizziness or tinnitus) did not differ significantly between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The hrTMS applied to the M1 region in PHN patients is effective by obviously reducing pain intensity and improving negative emotional states, with favorable safety profile.
