Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) is a neurotrophin that plays a critical role in the growth, maintenance, and survival of neurons. Its potential use in treating neuralgia and neuritis is primarily supported by preclinical and early-phase clinical studies. Animal experiments have demonstrated that NGF can promote nerve regeneration and reduce neuronal death following injury. In models of peripheral neuropathy and neuralgia, administration of exogenous NGF has been shown to alleviate pain and improve nerve function.

However, evidence from human clinical trials remains limited and somewhat mixed. Some small-scale clinical studies have reported benefits of NGF in treating peripheral neuropathies, such as diabetic neuropathy or HIV-associated neuropathy, with improvements in pain and sensory function. On the other hand, other trials have failed to show significant effects, and concerns over side effects (including increased pain or hyperalgesia) have limited widespread adoption.

While the mechanistic rationale for NGF use in neuralgia and neuritis is strong, and there is some early clinical evidence, large-scale, high-quality randomized controlled trials are lacking. Thus, the overall scientific evidence supporting NGF’s use for neuralgia and neuritis can be rated as moderate (3/5), indicating there is promise but not yet robust validation for clinical use.