Kazuhide Inage, Geundong Kim, Noriyasu Toshi, Hiromitsu Takaoka, Tomohito Mukaihata, Noritaka Suzuki, Yawara Eguchi, Miyako Suzuki-Narita, Yasuhiro Shiga, Masahiro Inoue, Takahisa Hishiya, Shuhei Ohyama, Kosuke Takeda, Masaya Mizutani, Susumu Tashiro, Akihiro Iida, Yu Otake, Seiji Ohtori, Sumihisa Orita
Neurotropin was associated with significant pain reduction in CLBP in this retrospective observational study, with an excellent safety profile. Psychiatric comorbidities and longer pain duration were associated with reduced treatment response. Neurotropin may be a beneficial therapeutic option for CLBP, particularly in patients considered unsuitable for long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, although these findings require confirmation in randomized controlled trials.
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate pain outcomes after Neurotropin initiation in individuals with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to explore factors associated with treatment response.
METHODS: This multicenter retrospective observational study included patients with CLBP (duration ≥3 months) who received oral Neurotropin therapy (4 tablets daily) from May 2024 to May 2025. The primary outcome was pain intensity, measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The secondary outcomes were patient characteristics, pain features, simplified Spine painDETECT questionnaire scores, and Brief Scale for Psychiatric Problems in Orthopaedic Patients (BS-POP) scores. Statistical analyses were conducted using paired t-tests with Bonferroni correction, repeated-measures analysis of variance, and multivariate regression.
RESULTS: A total of 106 patients (46 males, 60 females; mean age: 66.5±15.8 years) were included. The baseline VAS score was 6.74±1.12. Neurotropin was associated with significant pain reduction over 12 weeks, with VAS scores decreasing to 5.40±1.42 at 2 weeks, 5.15±1.39 at 4 weeks, 4.95±1.38 at 8 weeks, and 4.73±1.48 at 12 weeks (p<0.01 for all). The mean VAS score improvement was 2.14 points (95% confidence interval: 1.76-2.52) at 12 weeks. The minimal clinically important difference (≥1.5 points) was achieved by 62.3% (66/106) of patients. A BS-POP score ≥11 (indicating psychiatric problems) was significantly associated with reduced treatment response (VAS score improvement: 1.45±1.22 vs. 2.38±1.18 points, p=0.001). Pain duration was negatively correlated with treatment response (r=-0.26, p=0.049). No adverse events were reported.
CONCLUSIONS: Neurotropin was associated with significant pain reduction in CLBP in this retrospective observational study, with an excellent safety profile. Psychiatric comorbidities and longer pain duration were associated with reduced treatment response. Neurotropin may be a beneficial therapeutic option for CLBP, particularly in patients considered unsuitable for long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy, although these findings require confirmation in randomized controlled trials.