Journal article
Bilaterally reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density in unilateral CRPS-I
Pain Medicine, Vol.19(10), pp.2021-2030
2017
Abstract
Objective: Findings regarding small nerve fiber damage in complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I) are not uniform, and studies have not included a matched healthy control group. The aim was to assess intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) in relation to thermal sensitivity of the same skin areas in CRPS-I patients and a gender- and age-matched healthy control group.
Methods: IENFD was investigated in skin biopsies from the CRPS-affected and contralateral limbs of eight CRPS-I patients and from an equivalent site in eight gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs). Thermal thresholds (cold/warm detection, cold- and heat-pain detection) were assessed on the affected limb, the matching contralateral limb, and on the equivalent limbs of HCs, and participants rated the intensity of cold/heat and pain to static thermal stimuli (5 °C and 40 °C).
Results: IENFD was significantly lower in both the affected and contralateral limbs of CRPS-I patients than HCs, but IENFD did not differ between the affected and contralateral limbs of patients. The heat pain threshold was lower in the affected CRPS-I limb than in HCs, but all other thermal thresholds were similar in both groups. CRPS-I patients rated the cold stimulus as colder and more painful in the affected limb, and the warm stimulus as hotter, bilaterally, than the HCs.
Conclusions: CRPS-I may be associated with bilateral small fiber damage, and perhaps small fiber neuropathy and bilateral disturbances in thermo-sensory perception. These disturbances could stem from a systemic response to injury or might increase the risk of developing CRPS-I after physical trauma.
Details
- Title
- Bilaterally reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density in unilateral CRPS-I
- Authors/Creators
- V.F. Rasmussen (Author/Creator)P. Karlsson (Author/Creator)P.D. Drummond (Author/Creator)E.L. Schaldemose (Author/Creator)A.J. Terkelsen (Author/Creator)T.S. Jensen (Author/Creator)L.F. Knudsen (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- Pain Medicine, Vol.19(10), pp.2021-2030
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Identifiers
- 991005544233707891
- Copyright
- © 2018 American Academy of Pain Medicine
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Research on Chronic Pain and Inflammatory Diseases; School of Psychology and Exercise Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: InCites
Metrics
42 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.43 Anesthesiology
- 1.43.1905 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Web Of Science research areas
- Anesthesiology
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine