Journal of reconstructive microsurgery
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J Reconstr Microsurg · Jan 1992
ReviewThe adrenergic pharmacology of sympathetically-maintained pain.
The authors seek to highlight some of the recent advances in understanding the pharmacology and pathophysiology of sympathetically-maintained pain, and to develop alternate, and possibly more specific, diagnostic tests for this phenomenon. Mechanical hyperalgesia in sympathetically-maintained pain can be explained by central sensitization so that the activation of A-beta mechanoreceptors now causes pain. ⋯ The authors propose that an ongoing input from peripheral nociceptive afferents is necessary to maintain central sensitization. This nociceptive input may be due to an alpha-adrenoceptor mediated excitatory action of sympathetic efferents on sensory nerves that is independent of neurovascular transmission.