title: Mechanisms of neuropathic pain.
abstract: Neuropathic pain is a disease of global burden. Its symptoms include spontaneous and stimulus-evoked painful sensations. Several maladaptive mechanisms underlying these symptoms have been elucidated in recent years: peripheral sensitization of nociception, abnormal excitability of afferent neurons, central sensitization comprising pronociceptive facilitation, disinhibition of nociception and central reorganization processes, and sympathetically maintained pain. This review aims to illustrate these pathophysiological principles, focussing on molecular and neurophysiological findings. Finally therapeutic options based on these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lanz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maihöfner
mesh_terms: D059333:Central Nervous System Sensitization / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology