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Olfaction in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
Philip M Finch1, Hamid R Sohrabi1, Peter D Drummond1
1Centre for Healthy Ageing and Discipline of Psychology, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.
Pain Medicine (Malden, Mass.)
|November 21, 2022
Summary
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) patients perceive odors as worse than controls, but odor intensity and unpleasantness do not differ between symptomatic and contralateral sides. This suggests bilateral olfactory processing alterations in CRPS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Sensory Perception
Background:
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is characterized by sensory disturbances.
- The impact of CRPS on olfactory function remains unclear.
- Investigating olfaction in CRPS may reveal novel insights into pain processing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare odor perception (intensity and hedonic appeal) in CRPS patients versus controls.
- To determine if odor perception differs between the symptomatic and contralateral sides in CRPS patients.
- To explore the relationship between CRPS and olfactory sensory disturbances.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-seven CRPS patients and 21 healthy controls rated six common household odorants.
- Odorants were presented bilaterally to assess intensity and hedonic appeal.
- Participants reported perceived differences in odor strength and quality between sides.
Main Results:
- CRPS patients rated odorants as more unpleasant than controls on both symptomatic and contralateral sides (P < .05).
- No significant difference in odor intensity or unpleasantness was found between the symptomatic and contralateral sides within the CRPS group.
- Olfactory perception was globally altered in CRPS patients.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest bilateral interaction between olfactory trigeminal pathways and pain-sensitized thalamic or cortical circuits in CRPS.
- Altered odor perception in CRPS may involve aberrant bilateral processing, distinct from hemilateral sensory changes.
- This study highlights a potential role for altered olfactory processing in the complex sensory disturbances of CRPS.
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