title: [New concepts in the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain].
abstract: We here summarize five articles bringing new advances in our knowledge on neuropathic pain and put them into perspective with our current understanding. The first uses a mechanism-based approach with a capsaicin test to stratify patients suffering from painful diabetic neuropathy before starting a topical clonidine treatment. The second reviews disinhibition as a critical mechanism and a promising target for chronic pain. The third evokes neuroglial interactions and its implication regarding the interplay between injuries in childhood and hypersensitivity in adulthood. The last articles remind us that interventional therapies, not always very invasive, have a future potential in the therapy of frequent conditions such as head pain disorders.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'antalogie, Service d'anesthésiologie, CHUV, Lausanne. marc.suter@chuv.ch
authors.forename: Marc R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Suter
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sprenger
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Besson
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002211:Capsaicin; D003000:Clonidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006261:Headache / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D018689:Sensory System Agents; D003000:Clonidine; D002211:Capsaicin