A study to evaluate the effect of ultrasound treatment on nodules in multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract

Purpose/aim: Ultrasound has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and pain-relief benefits in several conditions such as cellulite or trauma events. We assessed the efficacy of ultrasound therapy on nodules associated with first-line treatments in multiple sclerosis patients. Materials and methods: Twenty-two multiple sclerosis patients were enrolled during 2013 and randomized to two groups: in the control group patients were treated only with a conventional gel prescribed for cellulite and nodules, while in the experimental group the gel was combined with ultrasound therapy. Patients were treated during 10 weeks and followed up for 10 additional weeks. Three nodules were assessed for each patient, measuring size, pain and redness at 0, 10 and 20 weeks. Results: We found a significant decrease in both groups in size, pain and redness across the three visits (p < 0.0001 for size, p = 0.01 and p < 0.0001 for pain, and p = 0.0002 and p < 0.0001 for redness, respectively for the difference at visit 2 and 3 with respect to visit 1). More interestingly, we observed a greater reduction in pain and redness in the ultrasound-treated group, but the difference was only statistically significant at 10 weeks (p = 0.01 for both pain and redness). On the third visit, no differences between control and experimental groups were detected, both achieving the same levels in measured variables. Conclusions: Both treatments are useful to improve skin reaction after first-line treatments, but ultrasound in combination with gel achieves a faster reduction in pain and redness, suggesting that ultrasound treatment might be a good analgesic for nodule management in multiple sclerosis patients.

KEYWORDS:

• first-line treatment
• nodule
• skin reaction
• therapeutic ultrasound

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge all participating patients.

The authors would like to acknowledge to Esther Alvarez-García from Dynamic S.L as a medical writer providing editorial assistance for this paper.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This trial was funded by Teva Pharma S.L.U. with the amount of 20000 euros, which went to the Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova and Hospital de día Miquel Martí i Pol de Lleida de la Fundación de Esclerosis Múltiple. Teva Pharma S.L.U. funded the article publication charges too.