An Egyptian child with erythromelalgia responding to a new line of treatment: a case report and review of the literature

Table 2 Response to earlier medications and other treatments in 32 patients presenting to Mayo Clinic with erythromelalgia[8]

Drugs used	No. of patients, response
	n	Very helpful	Somewhat helpful	Not helpful
Aspirin	14	1	2	11
NSAIDs (ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen)	14	1	0	13
Antidepressants (amitriptyline hydrochloride, venlafaxine, cyproheptadine hydrochloride)	10	2	2	6
Antihistamines (diphenhydramine, cetirizine hydrochloride, cimetidine)	8	0	0	8
Vasodilators (nitroprusside, nifedipine, diltiazem)	7	1	1	5
Β-blockers (propranolol, atenolol, nadolol)	6	0	1	5
Narcotics (codeine, morphine, fentanyl)	6	0	4	2
Gabapentin	6	2	0	4
Parenteral corticosteroids (oral, intramuscular, intravenous)	6	0	1	5
Topical corticosteroids	5	0	0	5
Physical methods (biofeedback, intrathecal pump, TENS unit)	4	1	1	2
Other anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin)	3	0	1	2
Sympathectomy	3	0	1	2
Acetaminophen	3	0	1	2
Other medications* (doxazosin mesylate, capsaicin, ergotamine tartrate, mexiletine, clonidine, tetracycline, homeopathic)	7	0	0	7

NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.
*Each drug given to one patient and all of them gave a “not helpful” response.