Anupama Poudel1, Masato Asahina2, Yoshikatsu Fujinuma3, Yoshitaka Yamanaka3, Akira Katagiri3, Nobuyuki Araki3, Shigeki Hirano3, Satoshi Kuwabara3. 1. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. anupamauprety@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan. asahina@faculty.chiba-u.jp. 3. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-Ku, Chiba, 260-8670, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Cutaneous sympathetic pathophysiology in complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) is not yet completely understood. To evaluate cutaneous sympathetic dysfunction in CRPS-1, we evaluated sympathetic sweat response (SSwR) and skin vasomotor reflex (SkVR) in CRPS-1 patients. METHODS: We studied 10 CRPS-1 patients (age 41 ± 13 years; 5 females and 5 males; disease duration 20 ± 22 months) and 10 healthy subjects (age 44 ± 13 years; 3 females and 7 males). SkVRs and SSwRs to several sympathetic activating procedures were recorded on the palms of the CRPS-1 patients (affected side) and controls (right side). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baselines of sweat output and skin blood flow between the CRPS-1 and control groups. SSwR and SkVR amplitudes were significantly lower in the CRPS-1 group than in the control group. There was no significant correlation between disease duration and SSwR or SkVR amplitudes among the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced SSwRs and SkVRs in the affected limb of our CRPS-1 patients may reflect underlying damage to the sympathetic postganglionic fibres.
PURPOSE: Cutaneous sympathetic pathophysiology in complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1) is not yet completely understood. To evaluate cutaneous sympathetic dysfunction in CRPS-1, we evaluated sympathetic sweat response (SSwR) and skin vasomotor reflex (SkVR) in CRPS-1 patients. METHODS: We studied 10 CRPS-1 patients (age 41 ± 13 years; 5 females and 5 males; disease duration 20 ± 22 months) and 10 healthy subjects (age 44 ± 13 years; 3 females and 7 males). SkVRs and SSwRs to several sympathetic activating procedures were recorded on the palms of the CRPS-1 patients (affected side) and controls (right side). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the baselines of sweat output and skin blood flow between the CRPS-1 and control groups. SSwR and SkVR amplitudes were significantly lower in the CRPS-1 group than in the control group. There was no significant correlation between disease duration and SSwR or SkVR amplitudes among the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced SSwRs and SkVRs in the affected limb of our CRPS-1 patients may reflect underlying damage to the sympathetic postganglionic fibres.
Authors: Phillip J Albrecht; Scott Hines; Elon Eisenberg; Dorit Pud; Deborah R Finlay; Kari M Connolly; Michel Paré; Gudarz Davar; Frank L Rice Journal: Pain Date: 2006-01-19 Impact factor: 6.961