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LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Year : 2017 | Volume
: 20
| Issue : 2 | Page : 166 |
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Carbamazepine: A symptomatic treatment of the paresthesiae associated with Lhermitte's sign
Karl Ekbom
Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden
| Date of Web Publication | 8-May-2017 |
Correspondence Address:
Karl Ekbom
Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Stockholm
Sweden
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/aian.AIAN_21_17
How to cite this article:
Ekbom K. Carbamazepine: A symptomatic treatment of the paresthesiae associated with Lhermitte's sign. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2017;20:166 |
Sir,
I read with great interest the review article on Lhermitte's sign by Khare and Seth.[1] The sign occurs, inter alia, in multiple sclerosis, in traumatic lesions of the cervical cord, and in subacute combined degeneration. I agree that very few studies are available on Lhermitte's sign and there is need of more research in this particular field. In this current review, treatment with extracranial picotesla range pulsed electromagnetic fields was said to be effective. Neck brace and collar might also be prescribed by physical therapists, and exercises and relaxation technique were claimed to be helpful.
I found that carbamazepine in a rather small dosage had an immediate symptomatic effect on the paresthesiae associated with Lhermitte's sign in three patients with multiple sclerosis.[2] In two of the patients, the symptoms reappeared when the treatment was discontinued. In two cases, the effect of the drug could be reproduced in several short series of treatment and was checked at each examination by letting the patient repeatedly bend his/her head forward in both a recumbent and sitting position. The therapeutic results in my cases resembled those obtained by carbamazepine in connection with the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and spontaneous paroxysmal symptoms in multiple sclerosis such as painful tonic seizures and paroxysmal dysarthria.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
 References | |  |
| 1. | Khare S, Seth D. Lhermitte's Sign: The current status. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2015;18:154-6.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
| 2. | Ekbom K. Carbamazepine, a new symptomatic treatment for the paraesthesiae associated with Lhermitte's sign. Z Neurol 1971;200:341-4. |
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