title: [Microneurography and research on peripheral neuropathic pain].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microneurography is a neurophysiological technique which enables recording from single peripheral nerve fibres in persons who are awake. The method is only used in research. We discuss how microneurography has been used to map nerve-fibre functions under normal circumstances and in chronic pain conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The article is based on a literature search in PubMed and on the authors' own knowledge and experience of the method from their research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Microneurography has contributed to the understanding of pain under physiological conditions and in chronic pain conditions, in particular peripheral neuropathic pain. For example, signs of hyperexcitability have been found in peripheral nerve fibres in connection with neuropathies and peripheral neuropathic pain conditions, and the proportion of hyperexcitable nerve fibres has been shown to be greater in neuropathy patients with chronic pain than in neuropathy patients without pain. Findings indicate that so-called CMi nociceptors play an important role in chronic neuropathic pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the longer term we hope that research using microneurography will help to reveal mechanisms of direct importance for the development of targeted treatment of neuropathic pain.
authors: Nevrologisk avdeling, Klinisk nevrofysiologisk seksjon, Oslo Universitetssykehus, Rikshospitalet, Norway. krorstav@ous-hf.no
authors: Kristin
authors: K
authors: Ørstavik
authors: Inge Petter
authors: IP
authors: Kleggetveit
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Jørum
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D035843:Biomedical Research; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology