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Arthritic pain is processed in brain areas concerned with emotions and fear

  1. B. Kulkarni1,*,
  2. D. E. Bentley1,
  3. R. Elliott2,
  4. P. J. Julyan3,
  5. E. Boger1,
  6. A. Watson1,
  7. Y. Boyle1,
  8. W. El-Deredy1,
  9. A. K. P. Jones1

Article first published online: 28 MAR 2007

DOI: 10.1002/art.22460

Issue

Arthritis & Rheumatism

Arthritis & Rheumatism

Volume 56, Issue 4, pages 1345–1354, April 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kulkarni, B., Bentley, D. E., Elliott, R., Julyan, P. J., Boger, E., Watson, A., Boyle, Y., El-Deredy, W. and Jones, A. K. P. (2007), Arthritic pain is processed in brain areas concerned with emotions and fear. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 56: 1345–1354. doi: 10.1002/art.22460

Author Information

  1. 1

    University of Manchester Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Salford, UK

  2. 2

    University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

  3. 3

    Christie Hospital National Health Service Trust, Withington, Manchester, UK

*Human Pain Research Group, University of Manchester Rheumatic Diseases Centre, Hope Hospital, Eccles Old Road, Salford M6 8HD, UK

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 28 MAR 2007
  2. Article first published online: 28 MAR 2007
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 19 DEC 2006
  4. Manuscript Received: 23 NOV 2006

Funded by

  • Arthritis Research Campaign, UK

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Abstract

Objective

Functional neuroimaging studies have shown that experimentally induced acute pain is processed within at least 2 parallel networks of brain structures collectively known as the pain matrix. The relevance of this finding to clinical pain is not known, because no direct comparisons of experimental and clinical pain have been performed in the same group of patients. The aim of this study was to compare directly the brain areas involved in processing arthritic pain and experimental pain in a group of patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Twelve patients with knee OA underwent positron emission tomography of the brain, using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Scanning was performed during 3 different pain states: arthritic knee pain, experimental knee pain, and pain-free. Significant differences in the neuronal uptake of FDG between different pain states were investigated using statistical parametric mapping software.

Results

Both pain conditions activated the pain matrix, but arthritic pain was associated with increased activity in the cingulate cortex, the thalamus, and the amygdala; these areas are involved in the processing of fear, emotions, and in aversive conditioning.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that studies of experimental pain provide a relevant but quantitatively incomplete picture of brain activity during arthritic pain. The search for new analgesics for arthritis that act on the brain should focus on drugs that modify this circuitry.

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