Although acute vaso-occlusive pain crises are common in sickle cell disease (SCD), some patients also experience chronic daily pain. This study investigated cortical areas involved in pain processing in low-pain and high-pain groups of patients at baseline of a trial with a pain burden outcome. High-pain patients had significantly thinner cortex in the right anterior cingulate cortex, bilateral posterior cingulate cortex, bilateral precuneus and left primary motor cortex. This is the first study showing structural brain abnormalities in patients with SCD and a high pain burden; these data may provide potential biomarkers for longitudinal trials of treatment for chronic pain.
How to access this content:
For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.
After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.
After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.
Keywords