ITB: Use in Ambulatory Patients; Combination With Morphine (AAN 2001)

Subject: ITB: Use in Ambulatory Patients; Combination With Morphine (AAN 2001)

Date: 5/8/2001

E-MOVE reports from the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Philadelphia May 5-11, 2001. Poster and Platform session numbers refer to abstracts published in Neurology 2001;56 (Supplement 3).

1. P01.022 Long-Term use of intrathecal baclofen infusion in ambulatory patients with spasticity
A Sylvester, SA Sadiq

Twenty-three ambulatory patients (15 with MS) with moderate-to-severe spasticity (Ashworth grade 3 or higher), who had insufficient benefit from or intolerance to oral medications, received intrathecal baclofen. All remained ambulatory at one-year follow-up. Several with progressive disease lost the ability to ambulate over time. Nineteen patients rated their quality of life in relation to ITB as "excellent," and all patients reported they would undergo the procedure again. Pump maintenance and catheter repositioning or replacement was required in some patients.

2. P02.026 Use of combination intrathecal baclofen and morphine in MS patients with intractable pain and spasticity
L Delahanty, SA Sadiq

Five MS patients with intractable pain and spasticity received intrathecal morphine (800-9500 micrograms/day) to supplement intrathecal baclofen (5-1200 micrograms/day). Ashworth scores declined from approximately 4.5 to 2.5, and VPASS pain scores from 9 to approximately 1.5. Four patients have received combination therapy for at least 3 years with sustained efficacy.

E-MOVE Editor: Richard Robinson, NASW, WE MOVE

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