ArticlePain medicine (Malden, Mass.)2023
Central sensitization in CRPS patients with widespread pain: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Self-reported questionnaires assessing body perception disturbances in adults with chronic non-cancer pain: a scoping review.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025Pooled it
- Exploring central sensitization symptoms in children with ADHD and their parents: a case-control study.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- The role of biopsychosocial factors in classifying pain intensity across various chronic pain conditions.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Descending inhibitory rostral ventromedial medulla neurons cause widespread antinociception and contribute to the pain-inhibits-pain phenomenon.Nature communications · 2026Article
- The N13 somatosensory evoked potential in complex regional pain syndrome - A potential marker for central sensitization?Clinical neurophysiology practice · 2026Article
- Myofascial pain in older adults: a geroscience-informed framework integrating precision geriatrics and digital therapeutics.Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026Review
- Intact endogenous pain inhibition in complex regional pain syndrome type 1.Pain reports · 2025Article
- Sensory Processing Patterns in People With Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.OTJR : occupation, participation and health · 2025Article
- An Emerging Perspective on the Role of Fascia in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Narrative Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2025Review
- 10. Complex regional pain syndrome.Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain · 2025Review
- Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Pilot Study.Journal of pain research · 2025Article
- Refractory CRPS pain treated with psilocybin: A case report.Clinical case reports · 2024Article
- Article
- Contact-Heat Evoked Potentials: Insights into Pain Processing in CRPS Type I.Journal of pain research · 2024Article
- Different Types of Pain in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Require a Personalized Treatment Strategy.Journal of pain research · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveWidespread pain hypersensitivity and enhanced temporal summation of pain (TSP) are commonly reported in patients with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and discussed as proxies for central sensitization. This study aimed to directly relate such signs of neuronal hyperexcitability to the pain phenotype of CRPS patients.
methodsTwenty-one CRPS patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. The pain phenotype including spatial pain extent (assessed in % body surface) and intensity were assessed and related to widespread pain hypersensitivity, TSP, and psychological factors. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was performed in the affected, the contralateral and a remote (control) area.
resultsCRPS patients showed decreased pressure pain thresholds in all tested areas (affected: t(34) = 4.98, P < .001, contralateral: t(35) = 3.19, P = .005, control: t(31) = 2.65, P = .012). Additionally, patients showed increased TSP in the affected area (F(3,111) = 4.57, P = .009) compared to HC. TSP was even more enhanced in patients with a high compared to a low spatial pain extent (F(3,51) = 5.67, P = .008), suggesting pronounced spinal sensitization in patients with extended pain patterns. Furthermore, the spatial pain extent positively correlated with the Bath Body Perception Disturbance Scale (ρ = 0.491; P = .048).
conclusionsOverall, we provide evidence that the pain phenotype in CRPS, that is, spatial pain extent, might be related to sensitization mechanism within the central nociceptive system. This study points towards central neuronal excitability as a potential therapeutic target in patients with more widespread CRPS.
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