What’s behind neuropathic pain? Mrs Caterina Maria Leone

IoNS and COSY division have the pleasure to invite you to Ms Caterina Maria LEONE, MD PhD, from the Sapienza University of Rome, talk entitled:

"WHAT’S BEHIND NEUROPATHIC PAIN? NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS INVESTIGATING MECHANISMS UNDERLYING NEUROPATHIC PAIN.”

Abstract :

Neuropathic pain typically manifests with continuous pain (burning, squeezing, pressure) or paroxysmal pain (electric shock-like sensations, stabbing pain), and provoked (brush- evoked, pressure-evoked, cold-evoked), or paraesthetic and dysesthesic (tingling, pins and needles) sensations. Although in some etiologic categories of neuropathic pain specific types of pain may predominate, none of them are etiologic specific. Clinical examination, questionnaires dedicated to neuropathic pain and laboratory tools should aim to define specific sensory profiles.

The sensory profile theory relies on the evidence that neuropathic pain manifests with different combinations of pain-related sensory abnormalities. Sensory abnormalities of neuropathic pain can arise through various pathophysiological mechanisms. This has implications for diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic tests, providing information on somatosensory afferent pathways, can be used to seek information on the mechanisms underlying the different types of neuropathic pain. In our studies we combine neurophysiological testing and skin biopsy variables with the different clinical symptoms of neuropathic pain.

By presenting studies in patients and healthy subjects, I will focus on my work in disclosing the mechanisms behind paroxysmal pain and cold-evoked allodynia.