Assessment of Central Pain in the Peripartum Period

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Chronic pain is common. Up to 10% of the Population has been estimated to suffer from chronic pain and up to 5% of the female population has been estimated to suffer from widespread, chronic pain and tenderness, thus fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). FMS is characterized by the presence of both allodynia and hyperalgesia. FMS is also characterized by disturbances of the autonomic nervous system such as orthostatic intolerance, postural tachycardia etc. The effect of these conditions during gestation and post partum periods is not well known. Parturition is a complex process which involves multiple endocrine and physiological changes within a short period of time. Severe pain is an important attribute of this natural process. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the impact of chronic central pain on the process of parturition. Our hypothesis is, that women demonstrating signs, symptoms and a history of central pain, before the onset of active labor, will differ from women not demonstrating such traits; these women may require earlier higher does of analgesia, and may demonstrate increased hemodynamic lability during labor and delivery.

Detailed Description
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Chronic pain is common. Up to 10% of the Population has been estimated to suffer from chronic pain and up to 5% of the female population has been estimated to suffer from widespread, chronic pain and tenderness, thus fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for classification of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS)(1;2). FMS is considered to represent a prototype of chronic pain which is mediated by the central nervous system, i.e. a condition in which chronic pain is the result of augmented pain processing (and diminished pain - inhibition) within the Central Nercous System (CNS) circuitry (3). Clinical characteristics which are suggestive of the presence of central, versus peripheral (nociceptive) or neuropathic pain, are a lifetime history of pain conditions, a diffuse, non- anatomical distribution of pain, a family history of chronic pain and the co-existence of additional functional symptoms such as chronic fatigue, disturbed sleep, irritable bowel etc. The current paradigms accepted for the pathogenesis of central pain involve an imbalance of multiple neurotransmitters in the CNS, some inhibitory (e.g. serotonin, norepinephrine) others facilitatory (e.g. substance P) which govern the process of spinal pain transmission. Additional processing takes place at higher centers, such as the amygdala and thalamus (4). FMS is characterized by the presence of both allodynia and hyperalgesia. In addition, medications which have been shown to be effective in FMS and similar conditions are different from those effective in acute pain or in other chronic pain conditions not characterized as central (e.g. malignancy - associated pain). Thus, opioids and Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) are relatively ineffective for the treatment of central pain (the former may even cause paradoxical hyperalgesia) (5) while medications which increase levels of norepinephrine and serotonin (NSRIs) are often effective. FMS is also characterized by disturbances of the autonomic nervous system such as orthostatic intolerance, postural tachycardia etc.(6) The effect of these conditions during gestation and post partum periods is not well known. Parturition is a complex process which involves multiple endocrine and physiological changes within a short period of time. Severe pain is an important attribute of this natural process. The processes of labor, delivery and also the peripartum period are characterized by acute shifts in volume, loss of blood and additional forms of physiological stress and emotional distress. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the impact of chronic central pain on the process of parturition. Our hypothesis is, that women demonstrating signs, symptoms and a history of central pain, before the onset of active labor, will differ from women not demonstrating such traits; these women may require earlier higher does of analgesia, and may demonstrate increased hemodynamic lability during labor and delivery.

Official Title
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Assessment of Central Pain in the Peripartum Period

Conditions
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Pre - Delivery Pregnant Women, Chronic Pain, Pain During Delivery

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Pregnant women, week 39-41 Ability to give written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Age under 18 High risk pregnancy Not able to give written informed consent

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Pre - delivery pregnant women<br>Participants in the study will be pregnant women attending the obstetric ER for routine term followup. This evaluation is generally conducted at week 39-41 of pregnancy. The current study will focus on women attending a regular followup, not considered to be at high risk. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) use during delivery | Use of anagesics (i.e. PCA) during and after delivery will be documented and compared with results of evaluation performed before delivery regarding tenderness, symptoms of fibromyalgia etc/ | up to 3 days after delivery | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient report of pain intensity during delivery | Information will be collected regarding pain levels during delivery, regarding hemodynamic changes during delivery, regarding the mode of delivery as well as standard neonatal data (APGAR score etc) | up to 3 days after delivery | 
| Blood pressure and pulse recordings | Standard clinical recording of hemodynamic measurments during labor | During labor | 
| Mode of delivery | Recording of mode of delivery, need for cessarian section etc | During labor | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Pregnancy, Chronic pain, Fibromyalgia