Successful Treatment Of Notalgia Paresthetica With Lidocaine 5% Medicated Plaster: A Case Report

Abstract

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a sensory neuropathy characterized by chronic, localized pruritus in a circumscribed area on the upper back. Pruritus, frequently resistant to treatment, may be accompanied by pain, paresthesia, allodynia and alloknesis. There is a paucity of data in the NP literature about the use of lidocaine 5% medicated plaster. This case involves a 75-year-old woman with NP and a history of many unsuccessful local or systemic treatments. The patient was treated with lidocaine 5% medicated plaster, while other therapies were progressively retired. After 11 weeks of therapy, a significant reduction in the intensity of itching was achieved and the itching area was reduced. The patient also reported an associated improvement in her quality-of-life throughout therapy. In conclusion, lidocaine 5% medicated plaster was successful in relieving itching and other symptoms in this case of NP.

Plain language summary

Notalgia paresthetica (NP) is a nerve disorder characterized by itching on the upper back. Sometimes the itch is so painful and intense that it can make it difficult to sleep, work and socialize, affecting quality-of-life. There are different treatments for NP and not everyone will have the same response to treatment. In this case, a woman with long-standing NP, after several unsuccessful therapies, were treated with lidocaine 5% medicated plaster, which can be applied to the skin where it hurts. After 11 weeks of therapy, an important reduction in the intensity of itching was achieved and the itching area was reduced. The patient also reported an improvement in her quality-of-life throughout therapy. In conclusion, lidocaine 5% medicated plaster was successful in relieving severe itch in this NP case.

Keywords::

• alloknesis
• etiology
• itching
• lidocaine patch
• local treatment
• notalgia paresthetica

Author contributions

The author meets the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this article, takes responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole and has given approval for this version to be published.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Funding was obtained from Grünenthal (Chile). The author declares that he has received honoraria from Grünenthal (Chile) as a member of advisory boards and a speaker for scientific meetings. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Medical writing support was provided by Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain) with funding by Grünenthal (Chile).

Ethical conduct of research

The patient gave informed consent for scientific and publication purposes.

Additional information

Funding

Funding was obtained from Grünenthal (Chile). The author declares that he has received honoraria from Grünenthal (Chile) as a member of advisory boards and a speaker for scientific meetings. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Medical writing support was provided by Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain) with funding by Grünenthal (Chile).