MRI and phenotyping of painful diabetic neuropathy (MAP-PAIN)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Magnetic resonance imaging And Phenotyping of PAINful diabetic neuropathy (MAP-PAIN)
IRAS ID
195893
Contact name
Dinesh Selvarajah
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Around one in five people with diabetes live with chronic pain (painful diabetic polyneuropathy or DPN). This can lead to progressive disability and poor quality of life. Unfortunately, current drugs have limited effectiveness and numerous unwanted side effects. This leaves many patients frustrated and dissatisfied. Sadly, there are no better ways of tacking painful-DPN. A new approach is needed to manage patients more effectively.
Using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined the nerve connections between different brain regions and found significant abnormalities in patients with painful-DPN. This abnormal brain connectivity was strongly related with measures of pain intensity, emotional distress and abnormal pain behaviour. This relatively simple test is an objective measure that captures the complex pain experience. However, it remains unclear how brain connectivity relates to 1) different subtypes of patients with painful DPN and 2) treatment. Resolving this uncertainty is fundamental to establishing it as a robust tool with clinical utility.
Methods: We will conduct an observation cohort MRI study in 80 participants with diabetes (No-DPN, n=20; Painful-DPN irritable nociceptor phenotype, n=20; Painful-DPN non-irritable nociceptor phenotype, n=20; Painless-DPN, n=20) and 20 healthy volunteers.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0164
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion