IV Mannitol – Expanding Perspectives for Use in Neurogenic

Inflammation & Neuropathic Pain

Jason Hughes ND & Brenden Cochran ND

Setting Expectations• What this presentation will be;

– A brief overview of the history of use of IV Mannitol

• Review of generally accepted mechanisms of action• Review of generally accepted clinical uses

– An introduction of potential new uses of IV Mannitol

• Particularly in view of mannitol’s mechanism of action on TRVP1 receptors in Neuropathic Pain

– A description of several cases where IV Mannitol has been used in from this new perspective.

Setting Expectations

• What this presentation won’t be;– A conclusive review or “the final analysis”– Neither of us have done exhaustive clinical trials

with Intravenous Mannitol

• Hopefully this presentation will pique interest in experimentation with IV Mannitol within you, so as to help us all better understand its full clinical applications!

A Little Background...

• The 1st Masters Class...– Both of us use Intravenous Therapies in our own practice.– The idea of exploring the use of IV Mannitol grew out

discussions around the dinner table between all of us present at the Inaugural Master’s Class

– Some initial research into the potential revealed a fair amount of history of use and several journal articles

– This lead to lots more exciting dinner conversations and the commitment to try this clinically to see if it was a viable treatment.

Mannitol: A Short History

• Mannitol is classified as a sugar alcohol; that is, it is derived from a sugar (mannose) by reduction

• A white, crystalline solid with the chemical formula C6H8(OH)6

• Has been used in medicine as a INTRACELLUALR DIURETIC for many decades (Many studies go back to the 1940’s)

Mannitol: Generally Accepted Pharmacokinetics

• “Because orally administered mannitol is not absorbed, it must be administered parenterally. It distributes almost entirely in the extracellular fluid, very little penetrating cells. As a result, it is virtually inert, only 7 percent to 10 percent being metabolized, probably in the liver, while the rest is freely filtered by the glomeruli and excreted intact in the urine. About 7 percent is reabsorbed by the renal tubules. With normal kidney function, after a single intravenous dose, the half-life of mannitol in the circulating plasma is 15 minutes. Of an injected dose, 90 percent is recovered in the urine after 24 hours.” – Nissenson et al.

Mannitol: Generally Accepted Pharmacokinetics

• “With severe renal insufficiency the rate of mannitol excretion is greatly reduced and retained mannitol may increase extracellular tonicity leading to a shift of water out of cells, expanding the extracellular fluid as well as inducing an apparent hyponatremia with increased serum osmolality such as occurs in hyperglycemia. Therefore, mannitol should be used cautiously under these conditions.” – Nissenson et al.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Renal – Can basically be used as an Osmotic Diuretic– An almost ideal prototype, mannitol was used

extensively in early physiological studies of osmotic diuresis.

– Osmotic diuretics are freely filtered at the glomerulus and poorly reabsorbed by the renal tubules. The resulting high urinary concentration profoundly affects renal water and sodium reabsorption.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Cardiovascular– Intravenously injected mannitol is confined to the

extracellular fluid space. The increased tonicity obligates water to move from the intracellular to the extracellular fluid to maintain osmotic equilibrium.

– With each 182 mg per dl increase in mannitol concentration, a 10 milliosmole increase in extracellular fluid osmolality occurs with the same proportionate dilution of all serum electrolytes as occurs in hyperglycemia.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Cardiovascular– Various amounts of plasma volume expansion have

been reported with mannitol infusion– Ranging from 1 ml per kg of body weight per 5

grams of mannitol infused to 3 ml per kg of body weight per 5 grams of mannitol, depending upon body osmolarity

– With each 100 mg per dl increase in mannitol concentration in the extracellular fluid, serum sodium falls 1.6 to 2.6 mEq per liter.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Cardiovascular– After the expansion of the extracellular fluid and

blood volume by injection of mannitol mean arterial pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, coronary blood flow and left ventricular end diastolic pressure all increase.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Cerebrovascular– Mannitol has several physiologic effects on the

cerebrovascular system.– Increased cerebral blood flow, increased cerebral

oxygen consumption and decreased cerebrospinal fluid pressure have all been documented.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Cerebrovascular– The decreased cerebrospinal fluid pressure, in spite

of increased cerebral blood flow, is of interest. Since mannitol cannot cross the blood brain barrier, it causes water to move out of the brain into the extracellular fluid. This decrease in brain water is the cause of the fall in cerebrospinal fluid pressure. The movement of water out of the brain in response to the osmotic effect of mannitol decompresses the brain when cerebral edema is present.

Mannitol:Generally Accepted Physiological Effects

• Ocular – Mannitol profoundly lowers intraocular pressure

when given intravenously just as it lowers cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

– Can also be used topically to create ocular hypotensive effect!

Mannitol: Generally Accepted Clinical Uses

• Raised Intracranial Pressure– Osmotherapy has been the cornerstone of the

medical management of cerebral edema, irrespective of its aetiology, for decades, and mannitol is the most widely used agent.

– In a survey conducted in 1996, 100% of neurosurgical units in the UK used mannitol during the treatment of intracranial hypertension.

Mannitol: Generally Accepted Clinical Uses

• Reduction in raised intracranial pressure• Preservation of perioperative renal function in patients

undergoing major vascular and cardiac surgery and in those with jaundice

• To promote diuresis and minimize the risk of acute renal failure in patients after renal transplantation

• Preservation of renal function in rhabdomyolysis secondary to crush injuries and compartment syndrome

• Bowel preparation before colorectal surgery, colonoscopy, and barium enemas

• Promotion of urinary excretion of toxic materials

Mannitol: Generally Accepted Clinical Uses

• “Mannitol is a standard of care for the management of intracranial hypertension and is recommended by consensus guidelines. There is little evidence to support its continued use for other indications...” –Shawkat et al, 2012

• Having said that, lets examine the history of “off label” uses and potential future “off label” uses.

Mannitol:History of Use In Pain

• Hooshang Hooshmand, M.D. – Has been researching and publishing about IV

Mannitol since at least 1969.– It would seem that he is the person that innovated

the use of IV Mannitol for Neurogenic Inflammation and Neuropathic Pain

– I have tried to contact him no less than 5 times, but unfortunately he is retired and not taking any calls!

Mannitol:Hooshmand’s Concept of Neuropathic Pain

• Mechanism– Principally views IV Mannitol as an intracellular

diuretic with action on the nerves as well– “Intracellular water retention is quite important,

especially in the following conditions: In any condition that causes traumatic or toxic metabolic water retention in the nerve cells, especially the brain, as well as in the peripheral nervous system.”

Mannitol:Hooshmand’s Concept of Neuropathic Pain• Examples of Water Retention in Cells (Nerves)

1. Disturbance of Pituitary and Adrenal Hormones• This is seen in conditions such as Diabetes Insipidus,

hyper corticosteroid dysfunction such as Cushing's Disease, hypothyroidism, and a condition Pseudotumor cerebri. In such diseases, the water concentration in the nerve cells is selectively increased. This causes water toxicity, increased intra-cranial pressure, and even death.

2. Another example of intercellular edema is glaucoma involving the eyes.

Mannitol:Hooshmand’s Concept of Neuropathic Pain• Examples of Water Retention in Cells (Nerves)

3. The third type of intercellular water retention is the typical inflammatory changes seen in neuropathic pain

• Such as diabetic neuropathy or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

• “The inflammation in neuropathic pain causes the disturbance of permeability of the cell membrane allowing the water, along with electrolytes such as sodium and calcium, to enter the nerve cells. This cell membrane disturbance causes the death of nerve cells, especially in the grey matter of the spinal cord, in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG), and in the peripheral nerves.”

Mannitol:Hooshmand’s Concept of Neuropathic Pain• Manifestations of Neurogenic Inflammation• The inflammation becomes manifested in the form of

edema of the extremities, severe vascular headaches, spontaneous cell membrane permeability of the arterioles and venules resulting in cutaneous bleeding and skin rash in absence of any kind of trauma.

• Such water retention and disturbance of cell membrane function causes edema of the brachial plexus, edema at the ankle or wrist, and these conditions become mistaken for thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, etc.

Mannitol:Hooshmand’s Clinical Observations

• “In the past decade we have applied the treatment with Mannitol to patients with compression neuropathies, as mentioned above (conditions mimicking carpal tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome and rotator cuff tear), as well as the patients who, due to CRPS, suffer from severe edema, neurodermatitis, and trophic ulcers. There were surgical candidates with the compression neuropathies who were divided into two groups. Both groups were given the option of surgery or treatment with IV Mannitol. The entire subject was discussed in detail with the patient and with their referring physician. One group underwent surgery, and the other underwent Mannitol treatment. After comparing 32 patients in each group, it became obvious that Mannitol treatment was quite successful and would eliminate the necessity for surgery. “

Mannitol:Hooshmand’s Clinical Observations

• The surgical group had a more rapid deterioration of their CRPS post-operatively. The CRPS changed from stage II to stage III in 2/3 of such patients, and the edema continued to show a tendency for further recurrence.

• The other equally comparable group of 32 patients, who underwent Mannitol therapy, did not require surgery, and their condition improved. The pain rating post-operatively dropped from an average of 6-9 prior to treatment with Mannitol, to an average of 2-5 after treatment with Mannitol.

IV MannitolHooshmand’s Guidelines

• Safety Guidelines– “As long as the patient has normal renal clearance

(no protein in the urine), the IV Mannitol treatment is quite safe” - Hooshmand

• Treatment Strategies– 100 g Mannitol in 500cc D5W over 40-60 min.

Mannitol & TRVP1 Receptors:Expanding Mechanism of Action?

• Expanding perspectives of use • Can the only effect of Mannitol be as a

intracellular diuretic?– Cleared from the body very quickly, but effects are

much longer lasting!

Mannitol & TRVP1 Receptors:Expanding Mechanism of Action?

• Could the mechanism of Mannitol’s effectiveness be also due to the response on TRVP1 receptors?

• If so, would the same amount or concentration need to be used?

• These are the questions that we are trying to answer!

Why we are excited about this...

• The cardiovascular system is one hell of a delivery system– IV Mannitol could allow the treatment of system wide

neurogenic inflammation! (Neurogenic Storm, FM, etc)– IV Mannitol could allow the treatment of “hard to get”

areas without the risk of deep injections!• One poke beats many pokes

– So says every patient I’ve known.• There is a known safety signature and a long history

of use

Some Potential Drawbacks

• Its expensive and you potentially need to use a lot more of it to get the effect.

• It can be difficult to obtain.• You may need to compound yourself or have a

pharmacist do it.• It takes longer to do a drip than subcutaneous

injections, longer visit times

Storage

• Don’t store in the refrigerator due to crystallization

• Don’t store over 30 degrees Celsius• MDV=Multiple dose vial

– Preservative and 28 day shelf life after opening• SDV = Single dose vial

– Preservative free. – Must be used no more then the day opened.

• Consider use of filter

Mannitol Concentrations

• 5% mannitol (usually compounded or you have prepared by dilution)

– 225 mOsmol/L – pH 4.5 – 7.0

• 10% mannitol (osmitrol) – 550 mOsmol/L (Hypertonic)– pH 4.5 – 7.0

• 20% mannitol (osmitrol)– 1100 mOsmol/L (Very hypertonic) (OUCH!!!!)– pH 4.5 – 7.0

Osmolarity

• Hemolysis: <145 mOsmol• Hypotonic: <250 mOsmol• Isotonic: 250 – 375 mOsmol• Hypertonic: >375 mOsmol

• Normal physiologic osmolarity range is 280 to 310 mOsmol/L

• Osmolarity:– 150-450: Low risk of phlebitis– 450-600: Moderate risk of phlebitis– 600 + : 100% risk of some phlebitis (Gazitua, et al)** Remember: changing osmolarity (dilution) does

not change pH. Both need to be assessed.

Osmolarity

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity• Pre-existing plasma hyperosmolarity• Heart Failure (CHF)• Disturbances of the blood-brain barrier• Anuria• Pulmonary congestion/Pulmonary edema• Active intracranial bleed• Severe dehydration• Progressive renal or heart damage

Cautions

Electrolyte disturbances:• Infusions of mannitol will cause depletion of

sodium and potassium.• Dehydration: osmotic diuresis• If using with dextrose (hyperinsulinism),

further potassium depletion.

Cautions

Use in Pregnancy: (Category B2)• Teratogenic Effects: unknown• Lactation: Not known if excreted in breast milkGeriatrics:• Dehydration and electrolyte disturbance

Cautions

Interactions with other medications:• Diuretics due to potentiation• Concomitant cyclosporin due to nephrotoxicity• Concomitant aminoglycosides (potentiation of

ototoxicty)• Anti-coagulants: reduce their effects by increasing

clotting factors secondary to dehydration• Digoxin: due to possible hypokalemia from mannitol

Adverse Side Effects

• Nausea and vomiting• Local pain, thrombophlebitis, phlebitis• Angioedema, allergy, anaphylactic shock• Chills, dizziness, urticaria, fever, headache, blurred vision• Hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmia,

angina like pains, convulsions, CHF• Nephrosis, diuresis, renal failure• Acidosis, electrolyte imbalances• Dehydration, cramps, thirst, dry mouth

Lab and other Work Up

• CBC• CMP• UA in office• Vitals pre and post• Patient is hydrating before and during

infusion.• Drip will last generally 1 – 3 hours depending

on volume, strength and patient tolerance.

Dosing

• 250 – 500 ml 5% mannitol• 250 – 500 ml 10 % mannitol• 250/250 ml (10% mannitol: 10% Dextrose)• 50 ml 25% in 200 ml 5-10% Dextrose

• Lower dosages are generally tolerated more and safer.

IV Mannitol

• Most patient’s report that they like having less injections.

• Better whole system treatment• Best for fibromyalgia, CRPS, or other 4

quadrant pains. • May benefit other neurological pathways.

Possible calming agent: see CASE

IV Mannitol

• Consider in future neurological cases.• Parkinson’s

– http://phys.org/news/2013-06-artificial-sweetener-potential-treatment-parkinson.html

– http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/gsoa-fma032913.php

Other IV agents

• Alpha lipoic acid• EGCG• Vitamin C• Vitamin E• Magnesium• MSM• DMSO• MTHF

Other agents

• Topical magnesium, MSM, DMSO• Injectable Vitamin D?

DIFFICULT TO DO!

Anderson, PS (2012, August). Active comparator trial of addition of MTHFR specific support versus standard integrative

naturopathic therapy for treating patients with diagnosed Fibromyalgia (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). Poster

Presentation, presented at the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians annual convention, Bellevue, WA.

Incidence Data:

Hetero A1298C

Hetero C677T

Compound Hetero

Homo A1298C

Homo C677T

Study n = 88 23 12 19 9 22

% CFS/FMS Participants

26 13 23 10 25

% Normal population

43 43 15 11 11

% Incidence Difference

- 40 - 70 + 53 - 1 + 44

Outcomes:Active comparator :

Hetero A1298C

Hetero C677T

Compound Hetero

Homo A1298C

Homo C677T

Intervention % (of n)

22 25 47 50 27

% outcome improvement

+ 55% + 75% + 56% + 56% + 71%

Approximately 45% of the population has 1 copy of the MTHFR C677T

Wilcken B et al. J Med Genet 2003;40:619-625

Fibromyalgia

• 43 year old female fibromyalgia onset 2001• Tried pain medications, muscle relaxers, trigger

point injections.• Pelvic pain 8/10 (10- worst)• B/L Jaw pain 5-6/10 (10- worst)• B/L Hand pain 7/10 (10 worst)• Burning aching pain• Have done 3 – 4 sessions (PSI injections with 5%

mannitol) have benefited but not holding.

Pressure algometry

• Pre-treatment– Left pelvis: 0.13 kg/m2– Right thoracic lateral to T10- T11: 0.56 kg/m2– Right upper thoracic T4-5: 0.28 kg/m2– Other PE CV, Resp., reflexes WNL– Vitals: BP 121/79, Pulse 94, RR 14

Infusion

• IV infusion:– 250 ml 5% mannitol– 250 ml 5% dextrose

• Infusion time 65 minutes. • Patient reports feeling more relaxed during

the IV

Pressure algometry

• Post-treatment– Left pelvis: 0.13 kg/m2 0.34 kg/m2– Right thoracic lateral to T10- T11: 0.56 kg/m2

2.84 kg/m2– Right upper thoracic T4-5: 0.28 kg/m2 1.45

kg/m2– Other PE CV, Resp., reflexes WNL– Vitals: BP 125/44, Pulse 97, RR 14– Patient reports pain levels 2/10 (10 worst).

Depression/Fibromyalgia

• 63 year old female, depression flare, irritable and emotional

• Tried pain medications, muscle relaxers, responding well to PSI treatments

• Left cervical pain C3-C4 8/10 (10- worst)• Left T7 pain 8/10 (10- worst)• Left T10 pain 8/10 (10 worst)• Aching pain

Pressure algometry

• Pre-treatment– Left C3-C4: 1.13 kg/m2– Left thoracic T7: 1.10 kg/m2– Left throacic T10: 1.10 kg/m2– Other PE CV, Resp., reflexes WNL– Vitals: BP 118/72, Pulse 76

Infusion

• IV infusion:– 250 ml 5% mannitol

• Infusion time 60 minutes. • Patient reports feeling more relaxed and very

calm. Pain not as prominent.

Pressure algometry

• Post-treatment– Left C3-C4: 1.13 kg/m2 1.13 kg/m2– Left thoracic T7: 1.10 kg/m2 1.55 kg/m2– Left throacic T10: 1.10 kg/m2 1.30 kg/m2– Other PE CV, Resp., reflexes WNL– Vitals: BP 118/71, Pulse 70– Pain levels dropped all sites to 2-3/10 (10 worst)

Case History’s

• M.S. With Systemic Neuropathic Pain– 65 y.o. Woman with M.S., Confined to wheelchair.

Pain – Entire spine, hips. Noticeable edema both legs but worse right, Obese, Constipation

– Initial treatments • Dietary changes, sensitivities, supportive GI protocol• NPT – DRG relevant areas (thoracic / lumbar / cluneal)

– Significant benefit but recurring pain.– Complained of “pain all over”

Case History’s

– 6 IV Treatments • No significant cardiovascular history• BP- WNL• No protein in urine• Started with 100cc 5% mannitol IV and worked up to

500cc 5% mannitol– 100cc 200cc 300cc 400cc 500cc 500cc

• Infused over 45min

Case History’s

• Outcomes (to date)– Initial treatment

• Headaches gone (didn’t report these)• Lost significant weight (5 lbs)

– Observations over subsequent treatments• Pain noticeably improved albeit still recurrent• Weight loss (could be due to dietary factors as well as diuretic)• Midway thru treatments she requested “just do the IV’s with me”

no longer wanted the injections she felt the IV was more effective for systemic pain

• Noticeable improvement in peripheral edema and discoloration• Noticeable relaxation during treatment as concentration increased

Case History’s

• 70 y o male – Fibromyalgia, systemic pain• 36 y o female – Transverse Myelitis, HA’s

Concerns

Appl Environ Microbiol. 2013 Aug;79(15):4675-83. doi: 10.1128/AEM.01184-13. Epub 2013 May 31.Mannitol and the mannitol-specific enzyme IIB subunit activate Vibrio cholerae biofilm formation.Ymele-Leki P, Houot L, Watnick PI.SourceDivision of Infectious Diseases, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.AbstractVibrio cholerae is a halophilic, Gram-negative rod found in marine environments. Strains that produce cholera toxin cause the diarrheal disease cholera. V. cholerae use a highly conserved, multicomponent signal transduction cascade known as the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system (PTS) to regulate carbohydrate uptake and biofilm formation. Regulation of biofilm formation by the PTS is complex, involving many different regulatory pathways that incorporate distinct PTS components. The PTS consists of the general components enzyme I (EI) and histidine protein (HPr) and carbohydrate-specific enzymes II. Mannitol transport by V. cholerae requires the mannitol-specific EII (EII(Mtl)), which is expressed only in the presence of mannitol. Here we show that mannitol activates V. cholerae biofilm formation and transcription of the vps biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide synthesis genes. This regulation is dependent on mannitol transport. However, we show that, in the absence of mannitol, ectopic expression of the B subunit of EII(Mtl) is sufficient to activate biofilm accumulation. Mannitol, a common compatible solute and osmoprotectant of marine organisms, is a main photosynthetic product of many algae and is secreted by algal mats. We propose that the ability of V. cholerae to respond to environmental mannitol by forming a biofilm may play an important role in habitat selection.

J Appl Microbiol. 2010 Dec;109(6):2183-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04850.x. Epub 2010 Sep 21.Enhanced germicidal effects of pulsed UV-LED irradiation on biofilms.Li J, Hirota K, Yumoto H, Matsuo T, Miyake Y, Ichikawa T.SourceDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics and Oral Implantology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.AbstractAIMS: The major objective of the study was to evaluate the enhanced germicidal effects of low-frequency pulsed ultraviolet A (UVA)-light-emitting diode (LED) on biofilms.METHODS AND RESULTS: The germicidal effects of UVA-LED irradiation (365 nm, 0·28 mW cm(-2) , in pulsed or continuous mode) on Candida albicans or Escherichia coli biofilms were evaluated by determining colony-forming units. The morphological change of microbial cells in biofilms was observed using scanning electron microscopy. After 5-min irradiation, over 90% of viable micro-organisms in biofilms had been killed, and pulsed irradiation (1-1000 Hz) had significantly greater germicidal ability than continuous irradiation. Pulsed irradiation (100 Hz, 60 min) almost completely killed micro-organisms in biofilm (>99·9%), and 20-min irradiation greatly damaged both microbial species. Interestingly, few hyphae were found in irradiated Candida biofilms. Moreover, mannitol treatment, a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals (OH(•) ), significantly protected viable micro-organisms in biofilms from UVA-LED irradiation.CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that pulsed UVA-LED irradiation has a strong germicidal effect (maximum at 100 Hz, over 5-min irradiation) and causes the disappearance of hyphal forms of Candida.

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dexametheasone on CSF pressure. Excerpta Medical International Congress 1969; Series No.193: 374-378.

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• 3.Hooshmand, H., Houff, S., and Quin, J.: Cerebrospinal fluid pressure changes with chemotherapy for intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurology 22:56-61, 1972.

• 4.Hooshmand H and Hashmi M: Complex regional pain syndrome (Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome): Diagnosis and Therapy - A Review of 824 Patients. Pain Digest 1999; 9 : 1-24.

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