Relief of Paroxysmal Sharp Pain and Allodynia in Postherpetic Neuralgia by Intravenous Selenium: A Case Report

Author(s): Chung-Yi Wu, Li-Kai Wang, Yao-Tsung Lin, Jen-Yin Chen

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a neuropathic pain. PHN patients experience various types of pain, suggesting multipathophysiologic mechanisms. Gabapentinoids are first-line therapy for PHN. However, PHN is often refractory to the treatment. Mechanisms of gabapentinoids on pain include altering calcium channels, inhibiting N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and reducing inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Selenium mediates neuroprotection through modulating NMDA receptors and reducing iNOS. We reported that a PHN patient with a low normal selenium level received intravenous selenium as an add-on therapy to pregabalin and responded well. More studies are required to determine the analgesic effects of selenium on PHN.