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Placeboresponder in randomisierten, kontrollierten Medikamentenstudien des Fibromyalgiesyndroms

Systematische Übersicht und Metaanalyse

Placebo responders in randomized controlled drug trials of fibromyalgia syndrome

Systematic review and meta-analysis

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Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund

Die Überlegenheit der Verum- gegenüber der Scheinmedikation beim Fibromyalgiesyndrom (FMS) ist minimal. Eine Placebotherapie von funktionellen somatischen Syndromen (FSS) wie dem FMS wird diskutiert. Wir bestimmten die Höhe der Placeboresponseraten in FMS-Medikamentenstudien, um zu überprüfen, ob weitere Forschung über die Placebobehandlung von FSS gerechtfertigt ist.

Material und Methoden

In CENTRAL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS sowie in den Datenbanken des U.S. National Institute of Health und von Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America wurde nach randomisierten, doppelblinden placebokontrollierten Medikamentenstudien mit einem Paralleldesign und einer Dauer ≥12 Wochen bei FMS-Patienten von Beginn bis 31. Dezember 2010 gesucht. Die Placeboresponseraten wurden durch die gepoolte Schätzung der Anzahl von Patienten mit einer 30%igen oder 50%igen Schmerzreduktion bestimmt.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 30 Studien mit 3846 Patienten unter Placeboeinnahme eingeschlossen. Die gepoolte Schätzung der 30%igen Schmerzreduktionsrate lag bei 30,8% [95%-Konfidenzintervall (KI): 29,4–32,3%], die gepoolte Schätzung der 50%igen Schmerzreduktionsrate betrug 18,8% (95%-KI: 17,5–20,1%). Die gepoolte Schätzung des relativen Risikos einer 30%igen Schmerzreduktion Verum- vs. Scheinmedikament lag bei 1,38 (95%-KI: 1,27–1,49). Die gepoolte Schätzung des relativen Risikos einer 50%igen Schmerzreduktion Verum- vs. Scheinmedikament betrug 1,57 (95%-KI: 1,36–1,81).

Schlussfolgerung

Die Höhe der Placeboresponseraten in Medikamentenstudien des FMS ist substanziell. Wirksamkeit, Sicherheit und Kosten von für das FMS empfohlenen Medikamenten und offener Placebogabe sollten in großen multinationalen Studien, die von öffentlichen Institutionen gefördert werden, überprüft werden.

Die englische Volltextversion dieses Beitrags ist in SpringerLink (unter „Supplemental“) verfügbar.

Abstract

Background

The superiority of true drug treatment over placebo in reducing symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is small. Drug placebo treatment of functional somatic syndromes (FSS) such as FMS has been discussed. We determined the magnitude of placebo responders in drug trials with FMS patients to substantiate further research on placebo treatment of FSS.

Material and methods

CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the databases of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America were searched for randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with a parallel design and treatment duration of ≥ 12 weeks in FMS patients from inception to 31 December 2010. The magnitude of placebo responders was assessed by the pooled estimate of patients with a 30% and 50% reduction in pain.

Results

Thirty studies with 3,846 patients on placebo were included. The pooled estimate of a 30% placebo pain reduction was 30.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.4–32.3%) and of a 50% placebo pain reduction was 18.8% (95% CI 17.5–20.1%). The pooled estimate of the risk ratio of 30% pain reduction by true drug versus placebo was 1.38 (95% CI 1.27–1.49). The pooled estimate of the risk ratio of 50% pain reduction by true drug versus placebo response was 1.57 (95% CI 1.36–1.81).

Conclusion

The magnitude of responders to placebo in drug trials of FMS is substantial. The efficacy, safety, and costs of drugs recommended for FMS therapy and open-label placebo should be compared in large multinational trials sponsored by public institutions.

The English full-text version of this article is available at SpringerLink (under “Supplemental”).

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Danksagung

Wir danken Prof. Furukawa (Japan), der uns eine Excel-Formel der Imputationsmethode zur Verfügung gestellt hat.

Interessenkonflikt

Der korrespondierende Autor weist auf folgende Beziehungen hin: Dr. Häuser hat in den vergangenen 3 Jahren von Janssen-Cilag einmalig ein Honorar für einen Vortrag erhalten. Dr. Tölle war in den vergangenen 3 Jahren als Berater und/oder Redner für Astellas, Grünenthal, Eli Lilly & Company, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer, UCB Pharma und Mundipharma tätig. Bei den weiteren Autoren liegt kein Interessenkonflikt vor.

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Correspondence to W. Häuser.

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Häuser, W., Bartram-Wunn, E., Bartram, C. et al. Placeboresponder in randomisierten, kontrollierten Medikamentenstudien des Fibromyalgiesyndroms. Schmerz 25, 619–631 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00482-011-1106-4

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