This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (16) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koppert, W. Articles by Sittl, R. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koppert, W. Articles by Sittl, R.

---

REGIONAL ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MANAGEMENT

The Effects of Intradermal Fentanyl and Ketamine on Capsaicin-Induced Secondary Hyperalgesia and Flare Reaction

Wolfgang Koppert, MD^*, Susanne Zeck, MD^*, James A. Blunk, MD^*, Martin Schmelz, MD, Rudolf Likar, MD, and Reinhard Sittl, MD^*

Departments of *Anesthesiology and Physiology I, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; and Department of Anesthesiology, LKH Klagenfurt, Austria

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. W. Koppert, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, Krankenhausstr. 12, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany. Address e-mail to koppert{at}physiologie1.uni-erlangen.de

In this study, we evaluated the effects of intradermal fentanyl and ketamine on capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia and axon-reflex flare. In addition, we obtained dose-response curves for possible local anesthetic effects. Saline (200 µL) and either fentanyl (1 µg or 10 µg in 200 µL) or ketamine (100 µg or 1000 µg in 200 µL) were injected simultaneously into the central volar forearm of 12 healthy volunteers. Nine minutes later, capsaicin (10 µg in 20 µL) was injected intracutaneously exactly between the two injection sites. Areas of touch-evoked allodynia and pinprick hyperalgesia, as well as intensity of pinprick hyperalgesia at the injection sites and axon-reflex flare, were evaluated. Fentanyl did not affect the area or intensity of secondary hyperalgesia. Only the larger concentration of fentanyl locally diminished axon-reflex flare without affecting mechanical detection thresholds. Inhibitory effects of ketamine on intensity of secondary hyperalgesia and axon reflex flare were observed only in the larger concentration. However, this concentration also clearly elevated mechanical detection thresholds. No inhibitory effects of ketamine in the smaller concentrations were observed. We conclude that fentanyl inhibits neuropeptide release on peripheral application without modulating secondary hyperalgesia. Ketamine failed to inhibit both secondary hyperalgesia and axon reflex flare as long as nonlocal anesthetic concentrations were applied.

Implications: We investigated the peripheral effects of fentanyl and ketamine on capsaicin-induced hyperalgesia and axon-reflex flare. In large concentrations, the opioid diminished axon-reflex flare without effects on secondary hyperalgesia. We found no evidence for the involvement of endogenous glutamate in secondary hyperalgesia or axon reflex flare.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. A. Chizh Low dose ketamine: a therapeutic and research tool to explore N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated plasticity in pain pathways J Psychopharmacol, May 1, 2007; 21(3): 259 - 271. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Sycha, D. Samal, B. Chizh, S. Lehr, B. Gustorff, P. Schnider, and E. Auff A Lack of Antinociceptive or Antiinflammatory Effect of Botulinum Toxin A in an Inflammatory Human Pain Model Anesth. Analg., February 1, 2006; 102(2): 509 - 516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]