Pregabalin in the treatment of red scrotum syndrome: a report of two cases

Abstract

Red scrotum syndrome is a poorly understood, chronic dysesthetic erythema primarily involving the anterior scrotum. Previous reports have indicated that red scrotum syndrome is occasionally responsive to oral doxycycline and oral gabapentin. Otherwise, few therapies have proven successful in treating the disorder. We report two cases of red scrotum syndrome responding to oral pregabalin, an anticonvulsant medication commonly used for neuropathic pain. These two cases suggest pregabalin as an effective means for treating red scrotum syndrome and endorse a neuropathic etiology.

Carvedilol for the treatment of red scrotum syndrome

“…Red scrotum syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion, and other etiologies should be ruled out first, such as atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal or bacterial infections, ichthyosis, syphilis, Langerhans cell histiocytosis. 1 , 4 The diagnosis of red scrotum syndrome is confirmed when confronted with persistent erythema of the scrotum with pain and burning sensation and a lack of a response to topical treatments. 6 …”

“… 1 So far, no drugs have yielded consistent efficacy, and symptoms need 4 to 18 months to resolve. 3 , 4 , 7 The management relies on the discontinuation of corticosteroids. In some recent case reports, new treatment modalities have been used: doxycycline alone or in combination with gabapentin or pregabalin, 3 , 4 , 7 gabapentin, 1 pregabalin, 4 and topical calcineurin inhibitors.…”

“… 1 , 2 Several treatment modalities have been used with minor efficacy. 3 , 4 We present 2 cases of red scrotum syndrome in which β-blockers were used successfully.…”

Rotes-Skrotum-Syndrom – Übersicht und Fallbeispiel

“…Pregabalin und Gabapentin sind in den Fallberichten die am besten und effektivsten wirkenden Mittel gegen die brennenden Schmerzen, was letztlich für die neuropathische Genese spricht, ebenso Amitryptilin [14][15][16]. Auch Carvediol, ein Betablocker in niedriger Dosis, ist effektiv [17].…”

Un varón con síndrome del escroto rojo

“…A menudo, la explicación del proceso y el uso de ansiolíticos puede ser suficiente 1 . La pregabalina, útil en el dolor neuropático, también se muestra efectiva en algunos casos 6 . La amitriptilina es beneficiosa, sobre todo, en los pacientes con mayor componente psiquiátrico 3 .…”