Pilot study: rapidly cycling hypobaric pressure improves pain after 5 days in adiposis dolorosa

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographics, medications, and comorbidities of participants with AD

Subject no.	Sex	Age	Medications	Comorbidities
1	M	46	Aspirin; eszopiclone; famotidine; loratidine; metoprolol; omeprazole; tramadol; valsartan	Esophageal candidiasis; gastritis; HTN; lipoma resection
2	F	56	Alprazolam; cephalexin; cyclobenzaprine; diazepam; duloxetine; hydroxyzine; modafinil; opioid; narcotic; pantoprazole; zolpidem	Achilles tendon repair; familial multiple lipomatosis; lipedema; lipolymphedema; morbid obesity; total knee replacement
3	M	37	Medical marijuana; opioid; narcotic	Fibromyalgia
4	F	36	None	Fibromyalgia; hysterectomy; lipoma resection; pseudotumor cerebri
5	F	39	Zolpidem	Adipose liposuction; endometriosis; IBS; insomnia; lipoma resection; Raynaud’s disease
6	F	59	Aripiprazole; lidocaine gel; lovastatin; omeprazole; opioid; narcotic; pregabalin	Depression; fibromyalgia; GERD; dyslipidemia; bilateral TMJ surgery
7	M	51	Carbamazepine; gabapentin; metformin; opioid narcotic; temazepam; testosterone; venlafaxine; warfarin; zonisamide	Cognitive dysfunction; depression; familial multiple lipomatosis; fibromyalgia; hypogonadism; hypovitaminosis D; insomnia
8	M	47	Cetirizine; lorazepam; omeprazole	Environmental allergies; familial multiple lipomatosis
9	F	72	Allopurinol; amlodipine; aspirin; colchicine; lorazepam; metoprolol; sucralfate; triamterene – hydrochlorthiazide	Chronic back pain; Dupuytren’s contracture; dyslipidemia; HTN; osteoarthritis
10	F	48	Aldactone; alprazolam amphetamine; celecoxib; cyclobenzaprine; duloxetine; levothyroxine; opioid narcotics; olmesartan; tramadol	Anxiety; cognitive dysfunction; depression; fibromyalgia; hypothyroidism; IBS; insomnia; obstructive sleep apnea

Abbreviations: AD, adiposis dolorosa; HTN, hypertension; IBS, irritable bowel syndrome; GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; TMJ, temporomandibular joint; M, male; F, female.

Figure 1 Change in pain questionnaire scores, weight, and bioimpedance before and after CVAC process exposures. A, MPQ (change in current pain) and PCS. B, Mean daily scores for average (open circles, unbroken line), highest (filled squares, dashed line), and lowest pain (filled triangle, dotted line) by the VAS. C, Change in percent weight and impedance from bioimpedance analysis. D, Percent change in total, mental, and physical SF-36 values.

*P < 0.05 comparing values from day 1 to day 5 by repeated measures ANOVA; actual P-values available in the text.

Abbreviations: CVAC, Cyclic Variations in Altitude Conditioning; MPQ, McGill pain questionnaire; PCS, pain catastrophizing Scale; VAS, visual analog scale; ANOVA, analysis of variance; BIA, bioelectrical impedance analysis.