Objective: Pregabalin has been approved for the treatment of the neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI). We performed a systemic review and meta-analysis of randomized, controlled, multicenter trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for SCI-induced neuropathic pain. Materials and

Methods: Research searching was performed in PubMed and EMBASE databases and the Cochrane library in May 2018. Clinical controlled trials using pregabalin for the pain treatment following SCI in adults (18 y old and above) were included. Pain and safety-related adverse events were considered as outcomes. Meta-analysis was conducted using Revman 5.0 software.

Results: Five publications (pregabalin, patients=261, placebo, patients=216) were included in our study. After at least 4-week's treatment with pregabalin (flexible dose, 150 to 600 mg/d), pregabalin-treated patients showed reduced pain -1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) (-2.33, -0.75), P=0.0001; improved >30% 1.83, 95% CI (1.37, 2.46), P<0.0001 and >50% pain relief 2.40, 95% CI (1.53, 3.77), P=0.0001; increased adverse events 1.36, 95% CI (1.18, 1.577), P<0.0001; and reduced Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale - anxiety -1.50, 95% CI (-2.99, -0.00), P=0.05 and - depression -0.34, 95% CI (-0.55, -0.12), P=0.002 scores compared with placebo-treated patients. Stratified meta-analysis showed there was no difference in primary adverse events (drowsiness, dizziness, peripheral edema, and dry mouth) between pregabalin and placebo groups (P≥0.05).

Conclusions: Our results showed pregabalin was efficacious and might be safe treatment for chronic pain followed SCI.