混合周围神经含痛敏小疼痛神经纤维(A δ和 C 纤维)。这些神经纤维的功能障碍可能导致疼痛阈值降低、对外围刺激的反应(外周敏感化)增强和中枢神经系统改变从而导致症状的放大和延伸(中枢敏感化)。中枢敏感化导致对通常无害机械刺激(机械痛觉异常)的响应能力增加,并导致疼痛蔓延到非相关区域(原发性和/或继发性痛觉过敏)。[17]Latremoliere A, Woolf CJ. Central sensitization: a generator of pain hypersensitivity by central neural plasticity. J Pain. 2009;10:895-926.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2750819/?tool=pubmedhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19712899?tool=bestpractice.com虽然根据定义,I 型 CRPS (CRPS-I) 无可识别的神经损伤,但在 CRPS-I 活组织检查中已检测到 A δ 和 C 纤维的小纤维异常。[3]van der Laan L, ter Laak HJ, Gabreels-Festen A, et al. Complex regional pain syndrome type I (RSD): pathology of skeletal muscle and peripheral nerve. Neurology. 1998;51:20-25.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9674773?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Albrecht PJ, Hines S, Eisenberg E, et al. Pathologic alterations of cutaneous innervation and vasculature in affected limbs from patients with complex regional pain syndrome. Pain. 2006;120:244-266.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16427199?tool=bestpractice.com[5]Oaklander AL, Fields HL. Is reflex sympathetic dystrophy/complex regional pain syndrome type I a small fiber neuropathy? Ann Neurol. 2009;65:629-638.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19557864?tool=bestpractice.com 但若特定的明确神经发生神经损伤,则与 II 型 CRPS (CRPS-II) 不同。
外周和中枢自主神经功能障碍一直被认为是导致血管舒缩、泌汗和营养变化(可在几小时或几天内有所不同)的原因。在 80% 的患者中,前 6 个月,皮温随着红斑和水肿的出现而上升,并在皮肤变蓝和变薄后下降。[18]Birklein F, Schmelz M. Neuropeptides, neurogenic inflammation and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Neurosci Lett. 2008;437:199-202.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18423863?tool=bestpractice.com
其中的一些特征可能继发于神经源性炎症。伤害感受器活化在外周释放神经肽(如降钙素基因相关肽、P 物质以及肿瘤坏死因子-α 之类的促炎细胞因子)。这会引起神经性炎症和随之而来的血管舒张、蛋白质溢出和水肿。[18]Birklein F, Schmelz M. Neuropeptides, neurogenic inflammation and complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Neurosci Lett. 2008;437:199-202.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18423863?tool=bestpractice.com[19]Benarroch EE. Central neuron-glia interactions and neuropathic pain. Neurology. 2010;75:273-278.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20644154?tool=bestpractice.com[20]Saab CY, Hains BC. Remote neuroimmune signaling: a long-range mechanism of nociceptive network plasticity. Trends Neurosci. 2009;32:110-117.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19135730?tool=bestpractice.com[21]Smith HS, Albrecht PJ, Rice FL. Complex regional pain syndrome: pathophysiology. In: Smith HS (ed). Current therapy in pain. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:295-309. 一项荟萃分析得出结论,CRPS 与血液、疱液和脊髓液中的促炎状态有关,但急性和慢性 CRPS 状态间的炎症性状况不同。[22]Parkitny L, McAuley JH, Di Pietro F, et al. Inflammation in complex regional pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology. 2013;80:106-117.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3589200/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23267031?tool=bestpractice.com急性和慢性 CRPS 中的免疫反应不同,[22]Parkitny L, McAuley JH, Di Pietro F, et al. Inflammation in complex regional pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology. 2013;80:106-117.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3589200/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23267031?tool=bestpractice.com其中肥大细胞的积聚和表皮角质形成细胞活化增加,且急性 CRPS 中的 TNF-α 和 IL-6 表达增加,慢性 CRPS 的情况则相反。[23]Birklein F, Drummond P, Li W, et al. Activation of cutaneous immune responses in complex regional pain syndrome. J Pain. 2014;15:485-495.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24462502?tool=bestpractice.com
近来有研究假设认为,潜在神经炎症(至少在 CRPS 的一些病例中)是对由外伤引入或活化的新抗原存在的一种独特区域性自身免疫反应。[24]Goebel A, Blaes F. Complex regional pain syndrome, prototype of a novel kind of autoimmune disease. Autoimmun Rev. 2013;12:682-686.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23219953?tool=bestpractice.com多种实验证据支持自身免疫反应的存在,如 B 细胞、肥大细胞、角质形成细胞、IgM 和 IgG 抗体、TGF、IL-6、NGF 和组织胺。[25]Tékus V, Hajna Z, Borbély É, et al. A CRPS-IgG-transfer-trauma model reproducing inflammatory and positive sensory signs associated with complex regional pain syndrome. Pain. 2014;155:299-308.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24145209?tool=bestpractice.com[26]Li WW, Guo TZ, Shi X, et al. Autoimmunity contributes to nociceptive sensitization in a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome. Pain. 2014;155:2377-2389.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25218828?tool=bestpractice.com在 I 型和 II 型 CRPS 中,已发现对抗自主神经元中的细胞表面抗原的血清抗体。目前,这是否属于偶发症状或是否具重要致病意义仍不确定。[27]Kohr D, Singh P, Tschernatsch M, et al. Autoimmunity against the β2 adrenergic receptor and muscarinic-2 receptor in complex regional pain syndrome. Pain. 2011;152:2690-2700.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21816540?tool=bestpractice.com
其他中枢神经系统适应性变化发生;这些可解释运动发现、反射亢进、皮肤交感神经功能障碍的机制以及运动皮层刺激的治疗潜力。[28]Maihöfner C, Baron R, DeCol R, et al. The motor system shows adaptive changes in complex regional pain syndrome. Brain. 2007;130:2671-2687.http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/130/10/2671http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17575278?tool=bestpractice.com[29]Oaklander AL, Birklein F. Factor I: sensory changes - pathophysiology and measurement. In: Wilson PR, Stanton-Hicks M, Harden RN, eds. CRPS: current diagnosis and therapy. Seattle, WA: IASP Press; 2005:59-79.[30]Wasner G, Baron R. Factor II: vasomotor changes - pathophysiology and measurement. In: Wilson PR, Stanton-Hicks M, Harden RN, eds. CRPS: current diagnosis and therapy. Seattle, WA: IASP Press; 2005:81-106.[31]Lima MC, Fregni F. Motor cortex stimulation for chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Neurology. 2008;70:2329-2337.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18541887?tool=bestpractice.com 经证明,慢性疼痛的病理生理学中已涉及运动皮层。有证据表明,慢性神经性疼痛状态下存在反射性皮层内抑制解除和丘脑神经元活动过度现象。[31]Lima MC, Fregni F. Motor cortex stimulation for chronic pain: systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. Neurology. 2008;70:2329-2337.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18541887?tool=bestpractice.com[32]Andre-Obadia N, Mertens P, Gueguen A, et al. Pain relief by rTMS: differential effect of current flow but no specific action on pain subtypes. Neurology. 2008;71:833-840.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18779511?tool=bestpractice.com