SLEEP IN CENTRAL NEUROPATHIC PAIN BY THALAMIC STROKE

– Background. Central Post Stroke Pain (CPSP) is a type of neuropathic pain (NP) due to a lesion or dysfunction of the Central Nervous System. The estimated prevalence of CPSP ranges widely from 8% to 55% of stroke patients . The most common is the development of CPSP within the first few months after stroke. Sleep has a restorative function  and can modulate the pain. Several studies have addressed the increased prevalence of Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB) in cerebrovascular patient of up to 50-70%. 
 
- Aims. Describing sleep quality and its relationship with pain in patients with CPSP due to left thalamic stroke (LTS).
 
– Methods.  We recruited 4 patients with CPSP due to LTS using questionnaire DN4 to identify NP and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for intensity of the pain. No patient was being treated with muscle relaxants. All patients were studied by polysomnography, Epworth scale, anthropometric data and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) related symptoms (snore and nocturia) in Sleep Unit of the Bellvitge University Hospital.  They explained that they had slept like they were  at home during the sleep register.
 
– Results. These findings in 4 preliminary patients so far, show that although they have no complaints of night pain they have more periods of wakefulness during sleep and low quality of sleep, as well as a higher prevalence of OSA than expected by the clinic.
 
– Conclusions. Polysomnography study can be useful to diagnose subclinical sleep disorders in patients with CPCP, and their treatment could improve sleep quality which can reduce the pain.