[Mslday]

I'm wondering if anyone here has any experience with an IV regional block using low-dose tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody infliximab for RSD/CRPS?

Successful intravenous regional block with low-dose tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody infliximab for treatment of complex regional pain syndrome 1.

Bernateck Michael; Rolke Roman; Birklein Frank; Treede Rolf-Detlef; Fink Matthias; Karst Matthias
Anesthesia and analgesia 2007;105(4):1148-51, table of contents
Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Clinic, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. bernateck.michael@mh-hannover.de

Cytokines, particularly tumor necrosis factor-alpha, may play an important role in the mediation of mechanical hyperalgesia and autonomic signs in complex regional pain syndrome 1. We performed an IV regional block with low-dose administration of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody, infliximab, in a patient with typical clinical signs of complex regional pain syndrome 1 (moderate pain, edema, hyperhidrosis, elevated skin temperature compared with the contralateral side). A significant improvement of clinical variables was observed 24 h after infliximab treatment. Almost complete remission was reached within 8 wk, but sensory signs improved only after 6 mo. No adverse events were observed.

MsL