Molecular correlates of localized versus co-occurring chronic pain conditions

Excerpt

Complex chronic pain conditions, including temporomandibular disorder (TMD), vestibulodynia (VBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and widespread bodily pain (WBP), represent a significant healthcare problem. Current treatment regimens remain ineffective due to the conditions’ unclear etiology and heterogeneous clinical manifestation. An emerging literature suggests that localized pain conditions occurring in isolation result from local increases in peripheral afferent activity, while those occurring in concert result from central dysregulations in pain processing. To understand the nature of these complex conditions and improve standards of care, the identification of unique biological signatures and pathways that map onto distinguishing clinical features is required. Thus, the objective of this session is to discuss the relationship between pain, related psychological characteristics, cytokine levels, and microRNA expression profiles in individuals with localized versus co-occurring chronic pain conditions. …