Abstract
Purpose of review Pain is the most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis, with a profound socioeconomic impact. Historical management paradigms failed, as they did not adequately address the fundamental underlying mechanisms. The present article describes the neurobiology of pain and sensitization in this condition, in an effort to explain prior failings and provide future directions for managing pain in chronic pancreatitis. Recent findings A number of recent advances have been made in understanding the neurobiology of pain for this condition. This has been coupled with clinical advances in assessing sensitization to pain in these patients, which has been shown to predict response to medical and surgical therapy. Summary Pain in chronic pancreatitis is complex. Addressing the mechanical and morphological findings in chronic pancreatitis without addressing the underlying neurobiological mechanisms is destined to fail. New advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of pain in chronic pancreatitis helps to explain prior failings and provides future direction for managing pain in patients afflicted by this disease.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 407-415 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Current opinion in gastroenterology |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 24 2015 |
Keywords
- Allodynia
- Central sensitization
- Chronic pancreatitis
- Hyperalgesia
- Management
- Pain
- Pancreatitis
- Peripheral sensitization
- Treatment
- Visceral hypersensitivity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gastroenterology