Neuropathic Pain, Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Conditions
Keywords
Spinal cord injury, SCI, Neuropathic pain, Pain
Brief summary
The investigators propose to compare plasma protein profiles for SCI patients with/without chronic neuropathic pain in order identify biomarker(s) that are associated with this medical condition. Secondly, the investigators propose to identify a temporal relationship to initial SCI at which these biomarkers manifest. Our working hypothesis is that sustained alterations in specific inflammatory molecules are associated with chronic neuropathic pain following SCI, and that their plasma levels can serve as biomarkers to identify patients at risk for the development of neuropathic pain. Additionally the investigators are collecting skin tissue biopsy samples from patients following acute and chronic spinal cord injury to create vector-free human iPS cells from fibroblasts by direct delivery of reprogramming proteins.
Interventions
OTHERblood samples
Chronic patients - a one time blood sample (12 mL) and questionnaire; 10 subjects will donate a 3-5mm skin tissue sample. Longitudinal Patients - 5 blood samples (12 mL each, totaling 60 mL at the following time points: within 48 hours, one week, one month, 6 months and 18 months post injury to coincide with standard visits) and questionnaire. 10 subjects will donate a 3-5mm skin sample. Healthy, pain free volunteers - a one time blood sample (12 mL), vital signs per standard CRU protocol and questionnaire confirming they are healthy.
Sponsors
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
The Institute for Rehabilitaion and Research Foundation
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
A. Chronic Patients Inclusion: 1\. Two or more years post traumatic SCI with deficit Exclusion: 1. \< 18 years of age 2. Evidence of brain injury on computed tomography (CT) (SCI patients need to be able to comply with completing the pain survey) 3. Other medical condition that accounts for chronic pain (i.e. diabetic neuropathy, renal insufficiency, multiple sclerosis, HIV associated neuropathy, alcohol-related neuropathy) 4. Temperature \> 100.5°C 5. History of infection within the last 30 days (i.e. UTI, URI, pressure sore) 6. History of Pulmonary Embolus (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) 7. Inability to obtain informed consent 8. Psychiatric problems (patients need to be able to complete the pain survey) 9. Diagnosis or treatment of cancer in the last 5 years B. Longitudinal, Prospective Cohort Patients: Inclusion: 1\. Initial traumatic SCI with deficit Exclusion: Same as listed above C. Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers include gender, age and race matched volunteers able to provide informed consent who have, 1. No significant medical history (pain free) 2. No recent infections 3. Take no medications 4. Fever free 5. Greater than 18 years old
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To identify candidate biomarkers for pain in the chronic SCI samples. | two or more years post injury |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To identify the temporal relationship of the development of pain and the manifestation of the biomarkers identified | two or more years post injury |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORGeorgene Hergenroeder, PhD
UTHSC-Houston
Outcome results
None listed