EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION OF THE ANALGESIC EFFECT OF IBUPROFEN ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HYPERALGESIA

The analgesic effect of systemic ibuprofen was investigated with two h uman experimental pain models: (i) static mechanical stimulation of th e inter digital web between the 2nd and 3rd finger and (ii) primary an d secondary hyperalgesia induced by a 7-min burn injury on the calf. I n each double-blind, randomized, two-way cross-over study 20 healthy m ale volunteers received either ibuprofen 600 mg or placebo tablets. Ib uprofen reduced pain evoked by static mechanical pressure in normal sk in and by motor brush stimulation in the area of secondary hyperalgesi a following burn injury. In contrast, ibuprofen did not reduce the are a of secondary hyperalgesia to either pinprick or stroke following bur n injury. Previous human experimental studies concerning the analgesic effect of NSAIDs are reviewed. Based on the previous literature and t he present results we suggest that NSAIDs inhibit progressive tactile hypersensitivity but not the central sensitization itself. (C) 1997 In ternational Association for the Study of Pain.