Imaging central neurochemical alterations in chronic pain with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Abstract

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used extensively in the study of various neurobiological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, autism, etc. But its application to chronic pain is relatively new. Not many studies in chronic pain have used (1)H-MRS. The unique ability of (1)H-MRS to assess both static and dynamic levels of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) gives this method a unique position in neuroscience. Emerging evidence in chronic pain suggests an elevated excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitter ratio is present within brain regions involved in pain processing. The combination of (1)H-MRS imaging with pharmacologic interventions holds significant promise as a direct one-to-one matching of disease pathology with drug mechanism of action can be made. As such (1)H-MRS may be useful in discovery of novel compounds for chronic pain. Research in these areas may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of these complex patients.

• Authors: Richard E Harris, Daniel J Clauw
• Journal: Neuroscience letters (Neurosci Lett) Vol. 520 Issue 2 Pg. 192-6 (Jun 29 2012) ISSN: 1872-7972 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 22445845 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Glutamine
• Glutamic Acid
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Topics

• Analgesics (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Brain (drug effects, metabolism)
• Chronic Pain (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Drug Discovery
• Glutamic Acid (metabolism)
• Glutamine (metabolism)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
• Neuroimaging
• Precision Medicine (methods)
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (metabolism)