Pain Phenotyping in Patients With Neuropathic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury

Summary

The development of neuropathic pain is one of the most debilitating sequels after a spinal cord injury (SCI). The overall aim of this study is to investigate potential underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain after SCI. The functionality of the nociceptive pathway in humans as well as its plastic changes following SCI will be inferred with sophisticated sensory and pain phenotyping using quantitative sensory testing (i.e., psychophysical measures), objective neurophysiological measures of pain processing and the recording of pain-related autonomic responses (i.e., galvanic skin response, cardiovascular measures and pupil dilation). In addition, the interplay between the somatosensory and autonomic nervous system and its association with the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain after SCI will be investigated.

Conditions

• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Pain, Neuropathic
• Nociceptive Pain
• Neuropathy

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Neurophysiology

Pain-related evoked potentials and nerve conduction studies

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Cardiovascular test

Blood pressure control, orthostatic intolerance test, baro-reflex sensitivity, heart-rate variability

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Experimental pain paradigms

Temporal summation of pain, conditioned pain modulation, offset analgesia

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Quantitative sensory testing

Thermal and mechanical sensory testing

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Clinical pain phenotype

Pain drawings, plus and minus signs of pain

DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pupillometry

Pupil size changes after phasic and tonic sensory stimulation

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss National Science Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Zurich

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Patrick Freund, Prof. Dr. Dr. · University of Zurich

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-04-17

Primary Completion

2030-04-30

Completion

2030-04-30

Countries

• Switzerland

Study Locations