Causalgia and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome (RSDS) are significant public health problems affecting mostly patients with peripheral nerve injuries. Although causalgia-RSDS was orginally described over a century ago and research efforts have multiplied since that time; its pathophysiological mechanisms are incompletely understood. The proposed research will investigate aspects of neural mechanisms involved in causalgia-RSDS. Based upon the most scientifically sound hypothesis emerging from animal experiments, we will explore, both for spontaneous and stimulus-induced pains, the roles of a) sympathetic efferent neural signals (and/or neurotransmitters) and b) afferent neural signals, as determinants of such pains in patients. This has become possible since the advent of single fiber recordings in awake human subjects through the microneurographic technique currently available to us. Specific questions will be: a. Do sympathetic efferent neural signals activate i. Mechanoreceptors or ii. Nociceptors in nerve fascicles supplying the symptomatic region of causalgia-RSDS patients? b. Do low threshold mechanoreceptors supplying the symptomatic region evoke pain when selectively activated by intraneural microstimulation? Given the scientific strength of the hypothesis, the power of the techniques to be applied and the straightforwardness of the experimental plan, the proposal is bound to generate significant data with well-defined health related repercussions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
1K08NS001181-01
Application #
3083963
Study Section
Neurological Disorders Program Project Review A Committee (NSPA)
Project Start
1987-07-01
Project End
1992-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715