Association between pain, central sensitization and anxiety in postherpetic neuralgia

Background In postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), dorsal root ganglia neurons are damaged. According to the proposed models, PHN pain might be associated with nociceptive deafferentation, and peripheral (heat hyperalgesia) or central sensitization (allodynia). Methods In 36 PHN patients, afferent nerve fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of pain 2015-02, Vol.19 (2), p.193-201
Main Authors: Schlereth, T., Heiland, A., Breimhorst, M., Féchir, M., Kern, U., Magerl, W., Birklein, F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Anxiety - physiopathology
Anxiety Disorders - complications
Central Nervous System Sensitization - physiology
Evoked Potentials
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neuralgia, Postherpetic - complications
Neuralgia, Postherpetic - therapy
Pain - etiology
Pain - physiopathology
Pain Threshold - physiology
Quality of Life
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Summary:Background In postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), dorsal root ganglia neurons are damaged. According to the proposed models, PHN pain might be associated with nociceptive deafferentation, and peripheral (heat hyperalgesia) or central sensitization (allodynia). Methods In 36 PHN patients, afferent nerve fibre function was characterized using quantitative sensory testing and histamine‐induced flare analysis. Psychological factors were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), disease‐related quality of life (QoL) with SF‐36 and pain with the McGill questionnaire [pain rating index (PRI)]. The patients were also divided into subgroups according to the presence or absence of brush‐evoked allodynia as a sign of central sensitization. Results For all patients, warm, cold and mechanical detection was impaired (p 
ISSN:1090-3801
1532-2149
DOI:10.1002/ejp.537