Effects of conditioning peripheral repetitive magnetic stimulation in patients with complex regional pain syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We tested whether repetitive magnetic stimulation (rMS) induces an afferent input to the spinocerebral tract in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).


METHODS
Cortical and spinal motor evoked potentials (cMEP and sMEP), as well as the contra- and ipsilateral silent period (cCSP and iCSP), were recorded in patients with CRPS type I before and after conditioning rMS, applied at cervical nerve roots innervating affected muscles. Patients were compared with a group of healthy subjects.


RESULTS
In the group of patients we found that cMEP amplitudes were always significantly smaller for both hemispheres. In the group of healthy subjects we found a significant prolongation of the cCSP and iCSP after rMS. This was absent in patients. SMEP were always unchanged in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This led us to the explanation that the afferent input to the motor cortical system in CRPS patients is less effective than in healthy subjects.
Krause
Phillip
P
Department of Neurology, University of Munich, Klinikum Grosshadern, Munich, Germany. pkrause@nefo.med.uni-muenchen.de
Foerderreuther
Stefanie
S
Straube
Andreas
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000528:radiation effects; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000528:radiation effects; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000528:radiation effects; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000528:radiation effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013997:Time Factors