Laser-evoked potentials correlate with clinical evolution in a case of spontaneous and recurrent complex regional pain syndrome type I.
We describe a case of spontaneous complex regional pain syndrome developing first in the left arm and 2 years later in the right foot of a 14-year-old girl. Physical examination showed abnormalities in tactile and thermal sensitivity. Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) after stimulation of the affected right foot were absent in the acute phase and then progressively recovered over a period of 5 months, in correlation with clinical changes. To our knowledge, no systematic analysis of LEPs in complex regional pain syndrome has been published. We suggest that the observed electrophysiologic alterations could result from a temporary dysfunction of attentional systems, which are assumed to contribute greatly to the LEPs vertex complex. Further studies are needed to test this hypothesis.
Moreau
Valérie
V
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de Médecine Physique et Réadaptation, Brussels, Belgium.
Berquin
Anne D
AD
Plaghki
Leon
L
D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D018450:Disease Progression; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D012019:Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy / Q000503:physiopathology*