Med Student Medical News about Arthritis, Rheumatoid Pain Perception

Your Unread Messages

See All

Tracy Hampton, PhD

FDA Update

New Ovarian Cancer Test Guides Surgical Decisions

Roberta Buell, MBA
Congress Proposes SGR Fix

Dorothy J. Schirf, MD

Technology Advances

Groundbreaking Nanolaser Grants Access to DNA

Sara Hartley

Cancer Science

Using Embryonic Stem Cells to Test Breast Cancer Genes

See All Messages (38 new messages)

Hello, Suzanne Dixon
Manage E-mail | Logout

Most Viewed Abstracts

1. Report Shows Shift in Starting Salaries for Physicians

2. Recommendations on the use of 18F-FDG PET in oncology

3. Use of Antiemetic Agents in Acute Gastroenteritis

4. Gene expression signatures, clinicopathological features, and individualized therapy in breast cancer

5. AHA Guidelines on Cardiac CT for Assessing Coronary Artery Disease

Your Article Summary

See Latest Articles

(Click the title below to leave the MDLinx Network and go to the Journal's Website)

Enhanced Pain Perception in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Novel Considerations
Current Pain and Headache Reports, 11/06/09

Wood PB – Enhanced pain perception is common among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Given the putative role of proinflammatory cytokines in the development of hyperalgesia, a greater understanding of factors that facilitate increased cytokine expression in RA stands to increase understanding of the sources of enhanced pain perception. Patients with RA have significantly greater stress–induced proinflammatory cytokine release. Although absolute deficiencies in cortisol have not been demonstrated, functional abnormalities have been described, including “abnormally normal” cortisol levels in the face of increased inflammation and deficient responses to stressful challenges. Parasympathetic insufficiency has also been demonstrated, which may enhance pain perception indirectly through disinhibited cytokine expression. Several psychological variables have also been demonstrated to affect pain perception in patients with RA. Identification of factors that contribute to enhanced pain perception in RA may aid in the development of novel analgesic strategies that, in turn, may decrease disease activity and improve general clinical outcomes.

<< Previous
Relationships of Fear, Anxiety, and Depression With Physical...

Next >>
Distinct subtypes of myelitis in systemic lupus erythematosus