Boucher & McMahon (2001): Neurotrophic factors and neuropathic pain

[Wise Young]

Neurotrophic factors and neuropathic pain [Review]
Timothy J Boucher and Stephen B McMahon
Current Opinion in Pharmacology, 2001, 1:1:66-72


Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a debilitating consequence of nerve damage. Existing treatment is largely ineffective. Current models of neuropathic pain recognise the importance of ectopic activity in primary sensory neurones impinging on a sensitised central nervous system. Neurotrophic factors have been shown to be neuroprotective for damaged sensory neurones, providing a rationale for testing their effects in neuropathic pain states. Recent data have demonstrated potent analgesic effects of one factor (glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) in animal models of neuropathy, and implicated changes in sodium channel -subunits in the generation of afferent ectopic activity. The new findings provide a rational basis for the use of neurotrophic factors as a novel therapeutic treatment for neuropathic pain states.