The Qutenza Patch as Treatment for Disabling Treprostinil (Remodulin) Infusion Site Pain
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2012-04-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Subcutaneous treprostinil (Remodulin) is effective therapy for pulmonary arterial
hypertension, a life threatening disease of the lung blood vessels. Unfortunately,
treprostinil is irritating to the skin and many patients experience intense pain at the
infusion site for the first 7-10 days after placing a new subcutaneous infusion site.
Qutenza is an FDA approved formulation of 8% capsaicin that is approved for the treatment of
post-herpetic neuralgia, a painful skin condition. The investigators hypothesize that
pretreatment of an area of skin with Qutenza would decrease the pain associated with a new
treprostinil infusion site. The investigators hope that Qutenza will decrease both the
intensity of the pain and the duration of the pain after patients place a new treprostinil
infusion site.
In this initial study, the investigators will provide Qutenza in open-label, unblinded
fashion and ask patients to rate their pain using a diary tool with which they are already
comfortable.