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Lemos MD, Barbosa LM, Andrade DCD, Lucato LT. Contributions of neuroimaging in central poststroke pain: a review. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2024; 82:1-11. [PMID: 39216489 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Central neuropathic poststroke pain (CNPSP) affects up to 12% of patients with stroke in general and up to 18% of patients with sensory deficits. This pain syndrome is often incapacitating and refractory to treatment. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely used methods in the evaluation of CNPSP. OBJECTIVE The present study aims to review the role of neuroimaging methods in CNPSP. METHODS We performed a literature review of the main clinical aspects of CNPSP and the contribution of neuroimaging methods to study its pathophysiology, commonly damaged brain sites, and possible differential diagnoses. Lastly, we briefly mention how neuroimaging can contribute to the non-pharmacological CNPSP treatment. Additionally, we used a series of MRI from our institution to illustrate this review. RESULTS Imaging has been used to explain CNPSP pathogenesis based on spinothalamic pathway damage and connectome dysfunction. Imaging locations associated with CNPSP include the brainstem (mainly the dorsolateral medulla), thalamus (especially the ventral posterolateral/ventral posteromedial nuclei), cortical areas such as the posterior insula and the parietal operculum, and, more recently, the thalamocortical white matter in the posterior limb of the internal capsule. Imaging also brings the prospect of helping search for new targets for non-pharmacological treatments for CNPSP. Other neuropathic pain causes identified by imaging include syringomyelia, multiple sclerosis, and herniated intervertebral disc. CONCLUSION Imaging is a valuable tool in the complimentary evaluation of CNPSP patients in clinical and research scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Delboni Lemos
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Radiologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana Mendonça Barbosa
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel Ciampi de Andrade
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Neurologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil
| | - Leandro Tavares Lucato
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Radiologia, São Paulo SP, Brazil
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Rosner J, de Andrade DC, Davis KD, Gustin SM, Kramer JLK, Seal RP, Finnerup NB. Central neuropathic pain. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:73. [PMID: 38129427 PMCID: PMC11329872 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00484-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Central neuropathic pain arises from a lesion or disease of the central somatosensory nervous system such as brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis or related neuroinflammatory conditions. The incidence of central neuropathic pain differs based on its underlying cause. Individuals with spinal cord injury are at the highest risk; however, central post-stroke pain is the most prevalent form of central neuropathic pain worldwide. The mechanisms that underlie central neuropathic pain are not fully understood, but the pathophysiology likely involves intricate interactions and maladaptive plasticity within spinal circuits and brain circuits associated with nociception and antinociception coupled with neuronal hyperexcitability. Modulation of neuronal activity, neuron-glia and neuro-immune interactions and targeting pain-related alterations in brain connectivity, represent potential therapeutic approaches. Current evidence-based pharmacological treatments include antidepressants and gabapentinoids as first-line options. Non-pharmacological pain management options include self-management strategies, exercise and neuromodulation. A comprehensive pain history and clinical examination form the foundation of central neuropathic pain classification, identification of potential risk factors and stratification of patients for clinical trials. Advanced neurophysiological and neuroimaging techniques hold promise to improve the understanding of mechanisms that underlie central neuropathic pain and as predictive biomarkers of treatment outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Rosner
- Danish Pain Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern, Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daniel C de Andrade
- Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Karen D Davis
- Division of Brain, Imaging and Behaviour, Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sylvia M Gustin
- Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- NeuroRecovery Research Hub, School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John L K Kramer
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, ICORD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rebecca P Seal
- Pittsburgh Center for Pain Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Departments of Neurobiology and Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nanna B Finnerup
- Danish Pain Research Center, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
- Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Barboza VR, Kubota GT, da Silva VA, Barbosa LM, Arnaut D, Rodrigues ALDL, Galhardoni R, Cury RG, Barbosa ER, Brunoni AR, Teixeira MJ, de Andrade DC. Parkinson's Disease-related Pains are Not Equal: Clinical, Somatosensory and Cortical Excitability Findings in Individuals With Nociceptive Pain. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:2186-2198. [PMID: 37442404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a frequent and burdensome nonmotor symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD-related chronic pain can be classified as nociceptive, neuropathic, or nociplastic, the former being the most frequent subtype. However, differences in neurophysiologic profiles between these pain subtypes, and their potential prognostic and therapeutic implications have not been explored yet. This is a cross-sectional study on patients with PD (PwP)-related chronic pain (ie, started with or was aggravated by PD). Subjects were assessed for clinical and pain characteristics through questionnaires and underwent quantitative sensory tests and motor corticospinal excitability (CE) evaluations. Data were then compared between individuals with nociceptive and non-nociceptive (ie, neuropathic or nociplastic) pains. Thirty-five patients were included (51.4% male, 55.7 ± 11.0 years old), 20 of which had nociceptive pain. Patients with nociceptive PD-related pain had lower warm detection threshold (WDT, 33.34 ± 1.39 vs 34.34 ± 1.72, P = .019) and mechanical detection threshold (MDT, 2.55 ± 1.54 vs 3.86 ± .97, P = .007) compared to those with non-nociceptive pains. They also presented a higher proportion of low rest motor threshold values than the non-nociceptive pain ones (64.7% vs 26.6%, P = .048). In non-nociceptive pain patients, there was a negative correlation between WDT and non-motor symptoms scores (r = -.612, P = .045) and a positive correlation between MDT and average pain intensity (r = .629, P = .038), along with neuropathic pain symptom scores (r = .604, P = .049). It is possible to conclude that PD-related chronic pain subtypes have distinctive somatosensory and CE profiles. These preliminary data may help better frame previous contradictory findings in PwP and may have implications for future trial designs aiming at developing individually-tailored therapies. PERSPECTIVE: This work showed that PwP-related nociceptive chronic pain may have distinctive somatosensory and CE profiles than those with non-nociceptive pain subtypes. These data may help shed light on previous contradictory findings in PwP and guide future trials aiming at developing individually-tailored management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Debora Arnaut
- Pain Center, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Galhardoni
- Pain Center, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rubens Gisbert Cury
- Movement Disorders Group, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Egberto Reis Barbosa
- Movement Disorders Group, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andre Russowsky Brunoni
- Laboratory of Neuroscience and National Institute of Biomarkers in Psychiatry, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research & Interdisciplinary Center for Applied Neuromodulation, University Hospital, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Manoel Jacobsen Teixeira
- Pain Center, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Movement Disorders Group, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Ciampi de Andrade
- Pain Center, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg E, Denmark
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