Publication
Title
Laser-evoked potentials in fibromyalgia : the influence of greater occipital nerve stimulation on cerebral pain processing
Author
Abstract
Objective: Fibromyalgia causes widespread musculo-skeletal pain in the four quadrants of the body. Greater occipital nerve stimulation has recently shown beneficial effects in fibromyalgia patients on pain, fatigue, and mood disorders. Laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) are used for research to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of pain and to evaluate the effects of pain treatment. In fibromyalgia patients, LEPs tend to have a higher N2 amplitude, a tendency to shorter latencies, and patients have a lower pain threshold. Greater occipital nerve stimulation might exert a modulation of the medial pain pathways processing the affective motivational components of pain (unpleasantness) as well as the descending pain inhibitory pathways (reducing pain), both of which are contributing to the N2P2 peak. Materials and Methods: To test this hypothesis, the authors performed LEPs in a group of fibromyalgia patients with and without greater occipital nerve stimulation. Results: Occipital nerve stimulation does not alter the amplitudes of the LEP recordings, although a significant difference in latencies can be seen. More specifically, latencies of the N2P2 increased in the condition after stimulation, and especially at the Pz electrode. Conclusion: Our results suggest Occipital Nerve Stimulation (ONS) induces a modification of the balance between antinociceptive pain inhibitory pathways and pain-provoking pathways.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Neuromodulation. - Oxford, 1998, currens
Publication
Oxford : 2015
ISSN
1094-7159 [Print]
1525-1403 [Online]
DOI
10.1111/NER.12310
Volume/pages
18 :5 (2015) , p. 376-383
ISI
000357388400006
Pubmed ID
25996805
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 03.09.2015
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference