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Published on: December 19, 2016
Can quantitative sensory testing predict responses to analgesic treatment?
K Grosen1, I W D Fischer, A E Olesen
1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
European Journal of Pain (London, England)
|May 10, 2013
Summary
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) shows promise in predicting pain relief from analgesics across different patient groups. However, current evidence is insufficient to recommend specific QST methods for routine clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Pain Medicine
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a method to assess sensory nerve function.
- Its utility in predicting analgesic effects in humans remains under-investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the effectiveness of QST in predicting analgesic responses in healthy volunteers, surgical patients, and chronic pain patients.
- To identify specific QST parameters correlated with analgesic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between 1980 and 2013 from PubMed and Embase.
- Inclusion of studies examining the relationship between QST and analgesic response in adult humans.
- Methodological quality appraisal using criteria for prognostic studies.
Main Results:
- Fourteen studies involving 720 individuals met the inclusion criteria.
- Significant correlations were found between various QST parameters (e.g., heat pain threshold, electrical pain threshold, pressure pain tolerance, conditioned pain modulation) and analgesic responses.
- Observed heterogeneity in QST application and analgesic types used across studies.
Conclusions:
- While QST shows potential for predicting analgesic effects, the current evidence base is not robust enough for clinical recommendation of specific parameters.
- Future research should explore diverse experimental pain modalities beyond single static stimulation paradigms.
