In November 2023, a new discovery was made about neuropathic pain in patients suffering from idiopathic peripheral neuropathy. Using data from the Peripheral Neuropathy Research Registry (PNRR), the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy’s research consortium completed an important analysis that led to an important discovery. This research is now published in a renowned research journal.
Plasma proteomic analysis on neuropathic pain in idiopathic peripheral neuropathy patients
Why only half of the idiopathic peripheral polyneuropathy (IPN) patients develop neuropathic pain is unknown. By conducting a proteomics analysis on IPN patients, proteins and new pathways that are associated with neuropathic pain were discovered.
The lipidomic component of the biomarker study identified a unique signature of changes in lipid levels in idiopathic peripheral neuropathy patients with pain versus no pain. This opens the possibility of developing a new blood test to objectively measure pain level in patients with PN. This potentially could alter how we assess patients with neuropathic pain and how we treat them.
The findings also point to new mechanisms of pain. Johns Hopkins Medicine is now working on exploring the feasibility of taking these observations from patient samples to mouse models of PN. More information will come following the conclusion of the next portion of this research study.
Learn more
To read more about these research findings, and for citation information, please visit https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jns.12606.
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