Central pain is commonly found in patients with neurological complications that are associated with central nervous system insult, such as stroke. It can result directly from central nervous system injury. Impairments in sensory discrimination can make it challenging to differentiate central neuropathic pain from other types of pain or spasticity. Central neuropathic pain may also begin months to years after the injury, further obscuring the recognition of its association with past neurologic injury. This chapter focuses on the involvement of P2X7 receptor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in central poststroke pain (CPSP). An experimental animal model is introduced that assesses the pathogenesis of central neuropathic pain, and pharmacological approaches and neuromodulatory treatments of this difficult-to-treat pain syndrome are discussed.
Keywords: Anterior cingulate cortex; Brain-derived neurotropic factor; Central poststroke pain; Cytokines; Medial thalamus; P2X7 receptor; Thalamic hemorrhage.