Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18954941
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| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| lifeskim:mentions | |
| pubmed:issue |
3
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| pubmed:dateCreated |
2008-12-3
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| pubmed:abstractText |
Postherpetic neuralgia is an exceptionally drug-resistant neuropathic pain. To investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying postherpetic neuralgia we clinically investigated sensory disturbances, pains and itching, with an 11-point numerical rating scale in 41 patients with ophthalmic postherpetic neuralgia. In all the patients we recorded the blink reflex, mediated by non-nociceptive myelinated Abeta-fibers, and trigeminal laser evoked potentials (LEPs) related to nociceptive myelinated Adelta- and unmyelinated C-fiber activation. We also sought possible correlations between clinical sensory disturbances and neurophysiological data. Neurophysiological testing yielded significantly abnormal responses on the affected side compared with the normal side (P<0.001). The blink reflex delay correlated with the intensity of paroxysmal pain, whereas the Adelta- and C-LEP amplitude reduction correlated with the intensity of constant pain (P<0.01). Allodynia correlated with none of the neurophysiological data. Our study shows that postherpetic neuralgia impairs all sensory fiber groups. The neurophysiological-clinical correlations suggest that constant pain arises from a marked loss of nociceptive afferents, whereas paroxysmal pain is related to Abeta-fiber demyelination. These findings might be useful for a better understanding of pain mechanisms in postherpetic neuralgia.
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| pubmed:commentsCorrections | |
| pubmed:language |
eng
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| pubmed:journal | |
| pubmed:citationSubset |
IM
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| pubmed:status |
MEDLINE
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| pubmed:month |
Dec
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| pubmed:issn |
1872-6623
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| pubmed:author | |
| pubmed:issnType |
Electronic
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| pubmed:volume |
140
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| pubmed:owner |
NLM
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| pubmed:authorsComplete |
Y
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| pubmed:pagination |
405-10
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| pubmed:meshHeading |
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Aged,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Aged, 80 and over,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Blinking,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Demyelinating Diseases,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Female,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Humans,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Lasers,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Male,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Middle Aged,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Nerve Fibers, Myelinated,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Nerve Fibers, Unmyelinated,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Neural Conduction,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Neuralgia, Postherpetic,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Neurophysiology,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Nociceptors,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Ophthalmic Nerve,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Pain Measurement,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Predictive Value of Tests,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Reaction Time,
pubmed-meshheading:18954941-Trigeminal Nerve Diseases
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| pubmed:year |
2008
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| pubmed:articleTitle |
Pathophysiology of pain in postherpetic neuralgia: a clinical and neurophysiological study.
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| pubmed:affiliation |
Department of Neurological Sciences, La Sapienza University, Viale Università 30, 00185 Rome, Italy. andrea.truini@uniroma1.it
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| pubmed:publicationType |
Journal Article,
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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