Gabapentin in painful HIV-related neuropathy: a report of 19 patients, preliminary observations

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Gabapentin as the sole analgesic in patients with HIV-related painful neuropathy. Nineteen patients with HIV-related painful neuropathy were administered Gabapentin. Efficacy was evaluated with two 100-mm Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) (0: no symptom; 100: worst symptom), rating pain and interference of pain with sleep, performed at baseline and monthly intervals. Main Pain VAS score decreased from a baseline of 55.7 ± 19.1 mm to a final 14.7 ± 18.6 mm (anovaP = 0.0001) and mean Sleep Interference VAS score decreased from a baseline of 60.4 ± 31.9 mm to a final 15.5 ± 27.7 mm (anovaP = 0.0001). Gabapentin provided significant pain relief in our patients with HIV-associated painful sensory neuropathy.