Long-term efficacy and tolerability of intranasal fentanyl in the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain

Menée en Italie auprès de 75 patients atteints de cancer, cette étude prospective évalue l'efficacité à long terme du fentanyl administré par voie nasale pour prendre en charge un accès douloureux paroxystique

Résumé en anglais

Purpose : The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term tolerability and efficacy of intranasal fentanyl (INFS) in opioid-tolerant patients with breakthrough cancer pain (BTP).

Patients and methods : A 6 months, observational, prospective, cohort study design was employed to follow advanced cancer patients with BTP receiving INFS under routine clinical practice. Eligible adult cancer patients suffering from BTP had been prescribed INFS at effective doses. Data were collected at T0 and at month intervals for six months. The principal outcomes were the evaluation of possible serious adverse effects with prolonged use of INFS, the efficacy of BTP treatment with INFS, the quality of sleep, the rate of INFS discontinuation, and reasons for that.

Results : Seventy-five patients were surveyed. Thirty-four patients (45.3 %) had a follow-up at 3 months, and twelve patients (16 %) were followed up at 6 months. The mean opioid doses, expressed as oral morphine equivalents, ranged 111–180 mg/day, while the mean INFS doses were 87–119