Chronic Pain After Spinal Cord Injury: Is There a Role for Neuron-Immune Dysregulation?

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Chambel, SS (Author) Other; Isaura Tavares (Author) FMUP; Cruz C.D. (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Frontiers in Physiology

Vol. 11

ISSN: 1664-042X

Publisher: Frontiers Media

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 18 Citations

Scopus - 21 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00S-GZS

DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00748

Abstract (EN): Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event with a tremendous impact in the life of the affected individual and family. Traumatic injuries related to motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports, and violence are the most common causes. The majority of spinal lesions is incomplete and occurs at cervical levels of the cord, causing a disruption of several ascending and descending neuronal pathways. Additionally, many patients develop chronic pain and describe it as burning, stabbing, shooting, or shocking and often arising with no stimulus. Less frequently, people with SCI also experience pain out of context with the stimulus (e.g., light touch). While abolishment of the endogenous descending inhibitory circuits is a recognized cause for chronic pain, an increasing number of studies suggest that uncontrolled release of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators by neurons, glial, and immune cells is also important in the emergence and maintenance of SCI-induced chronic pain. This constitutes the topic of the present mini-review, which will focus on the importance of neuro-immune dysregulation for pain after SCI.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8