Evidences for antinociceptive effect of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in carpal tunnel syndrome

Growing evidence of neuroprotective and analgesic effects by progesterone (PROG) has been obtained in experimental animal models of neuropathy. In this paper, we report the results of the first experimental study to test the efficacy of PROG in a human neuropathy. The effects of a local administration of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17HPC) has been studied in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and compared with those of a local administration of corticosteroid (CS) in a analogous CTS group. Sixteen women affected by mild CTS were selected. Clinical, electrophysiological and ultrasonographic data of the median nerve were quantified at 0 (pre-injection), 1 and 6 months after CS or 17HPC injection. One month after injection, both 17HPC and CS groups exhibited similar reduction in pain scores, whereas only the 17HPC-treated group still manifested symptoms relief 6 months after. Only in CS-treated patients, improvement of the clinical data correlated with ultrasonographic and electrophysiological changes of the median nerve. The present study indicates that intra-carpal injection with a long-acting PROG derivative is effective for relief of symptoms in CTS. This effect is apparently mediated by a mechanism distinct from that of the CS.