Cortical Representation of NGF-induced Hyperalgesia

Prof Herta Flor1 site in 1 country20 target enrollmentMarch 2014

ConditionsNon-inflammatory Neuropathic Pain Healthy Subjects

Overview

Phase: Not Applicable
Intervention: Not specified
Conditions: Non-inflammatory Neuropathic Pain
Sponsor: Prof Herta Flor
Enrollment: 20
Locations: 1
Primary Endpoint: Changes in activation of the pain processing and resting state networks
Status: Completed
Last Updated: 11 years ago

Overview Investigators Eligibility Criteria Outcomes Sites Similar Trials

Overview

Brief Summary

Intraepidermal injection of nerve growth factor results in a non-inflammatory hyperalgesia for thermal and mechanical stimuli. This hyperalgesia is similar to the pathological ailments of patients with neuropathic pain. The mechanisms of the cognitive modulation of pain and hyperalgesia are not yet understood in this group of patients. The investigators plan to use NGF injection as a model of non-inflammatory neuropathic pain in healthy subjects to investigate the underlying neuronal mechanisms of this hyperalgesia using functional magnetic resonance imaging and resting state network analysis.

Registry

clinicaltrials.gov

Start Date

March 2014

End Date

December 2014

Last Updated

11 years ago

Study Type

Interventional

Study Design

Single Group

Sex

Male

Investigators

Sponsor

Prof Herta Flor

Responsible Party

Sponsor Investigator

Principal Investigator

Prof Herta Flor

Prof. Dr. Herta Flor

Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

•no acute or chronic disease
•no acute or chronic pain
•age: 18-60 years
•no medication use

Exclusion Criteria

•metallic parts in the body
•claustrophobia
•drug or substance abuse

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Changes in activation of the pain processing and resting state networks

Time Frame: baseline to one week

Activation of the resting state network (using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a standard echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence) as well as acitvation of the pain processing network (using fMRI and a standard EPI sequence) in response to painful stimulation, will be measured before and after injection of NGF into the volar forearm of the participant. Particants are measured 0-4 days before injection (baseline) and then again 4-7 days after injection (to measure changes due to NGF injection).