Exploring pain pathophysiology in patients.
Although animal models of pain have brought invaluable information on basic processes underlying pain pathophysiology, translation to humans is a problem. This Review will summarize what information has been gained by the direct study of patients with chronic pain. The techniques discussed range from patient phenotyping using quantitative sensory testing to specialized nociceptor neurophysiology, imaging methods of peripheral nociceptors, analyses of body fluids, genetics and epigenetics, and the generation of sensory neurons from patients via inducible pluripotent stem cells.
Department of Neurology, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 11, D-97080 Würzburg, Germany. sommer@uni-wuerzburg.de.
Claudia
C
Sommer
D001706:Biopsy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D057026:Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000502:physiology; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000379:methods; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics; D011115:Polyneuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
D035683:MicroRNAs