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Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain
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Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 2750

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Soo-Jin Cho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Neurology, Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Keun Jae Bong-gil 7, Hwaseong 18450, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
Interests: migraine; cluster headache; oxygen therapy; calcitonine-gene related peptide; cognition; psychiatric comorbidities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of headache and neuropathic pain is evolving rapidly, with new research offering insights into pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Healthcare professionals and researchers must stay informed and contribute to understanding the intersection of these complex conditions.

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue of our journal entitled “Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain”, focusing on migraine disorders, secondary headaches that can mimic migraine, primary and secondary neuropathic pain, diagnostic modalities like Magnetic Resonance Imaging or genetic analysis, and updated treatment options like anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies. Addressing these interconnections is essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

We invite experts to contribute original research, reviews, or case studies on mechanisms and management strategies for headache and neuropathic pain. Topics of interest include the role of neuropeptides like CGRP and serotonin, innovative diagnostic tools, patient-reported outcomes, and both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Contributions exploring the socioeconomic impact of these conditions are also encouraged. We encourage healthcare professionals, researchers, and experts to submit their work. Your contributions will enrich the discourse and drive innovation in clinical practice.

Together, we can advance understanding of headacahe and neuropathic pain, striving for more effective and compassionate care.

Prof. Dr. Soo-Jin Cho
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • headache
  • migraine
  • reversible vasoconstrictino syndrome
  • calcitonine-gene-related peptide
  • neuropathic pain
  • chemothera-py-induced peripheral neuropathy
  • central sensitization

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2531 KiB  
Article
Thalamic Microstructural Alterations as Revealed by the T1/T2 Ratio in Chronic Pain Patients
by Max van Grinsven, Richard Witkam, Erkan Kurt, Sezai Özkan, Anja van der Kolk, Kris Vissers and Dylan Henssen
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(9), 2888; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14092888 - 22 Apr 2025
Viewed by 156
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Neuroimaging biomarkers could offer more objective measures of the pain experience. This study investigated rT1/T2 maps of the brain as a novel biomarker for chronic pain in patients with central post-stroke pain (PSP) and persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 (PSPS-II). Methods: [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Neuroimaging biomarkers could offer more objective measures of the pain experience. This study investigated rT1/T2 maps of the brain as a novel biomarker for chronic pain in patients with central post-stroke pain (PSP) and persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 (PSPS-II). Methods: Patients with PSP and PSPS-II were retrospectively included alongside healthy controls. Bias correction and intensity normalization were applied to the T1-weighted and T2-weighted images to generate the rT1/T2 maps of the brain. Subsequently, rT1/T2 maps were spatially correlated with neurotransmitter atlases derived from molecular imaging. Results: In total, 15 PSPS-II patients, 11 PSP patients, and 18 healthy controls were included. No significant differences between patient and control demographics were found. Significant decreases in rT1/T2 signal intensity (p < 0.001) were observed in the dorsal and medial part of the thalamus, left caudate nucleus, cuneus, superior frontal gyrus, and dorsal cervicomedullary junction in PSP patients. No significant changes were found in rT1/T2 signal intensity in PSPS-II patients. Significant correlations were found with CB1-, 5HT2a-, and mGluR5-receptor maps (pFDR = 0.003, 0.030, and 0.030, respectively) for the PSP patients and with CB1-, 5HT1a-, 5HT2a-, KappaOp-, and mGluR5-receptor maps (pFDR = 0.003, 0.002, 0.002, 0.003, and 0.002, respectively) in PSPS-II patients. Conclusions: These findings suggest that microstructural alterations occur in the thalamus, cuneus, and dorsal cervicomedullary junction in patients with PSP. The lack of significant findings in rT1/T2 in PSPS-II patients combined with the significant correlations with multiple neurotransmitter maps suggests varying degrees of microstructural deterioration in both chronic pain syndromes, although further research is warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain)
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17 pages, 6517 KiB  
Article
The Use of Nerve Conduction Study to Evaluate the Effects of Frozen Sock Treatment on Docetaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Prospective Clinical Trial
by Eun-Young Kim, Mi-Yeon Lee and Bum-Chun Suh
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(3), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14030864 - 28 Jan 2025
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Docetaxel is a cytotoxic agent for the treatment of breast cancer, and its toxicities include peripheral neuropathy (PN). This study evaluated the ability of frozen sock (FS) treatment to prevent docetaxel-induced PN by performing nerve conduction study (NCS). Methods: From [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Docetaxel is a cytotoxic agent for the treatment of breast cancer, and its toxicities include peripheral neuropathy (PN). This study evaluated the ability of frozen sock (FS) treatment to prevent docetaxel-induced PN by performing nerve conduction study (NCS). Methods: From October 2017 to October 2018, 48 patients who had invasive carcinoma and were planned for docetaxel treatment every three weeks were evaluated. Patients wore a FS on the right foot, and the left foot was not protected by the FS during docetaxel infusion. Motor and sensory NCS as well as nail and skin toxicities were assessed. Results: The amplitude and velocity of the motor and sensory nerves significantly decreased after three months in both feet. Before and after three months of chemotherapy, the compound motor action potentials (CMAPs) for the right peroneal nerve were 7.64 ± 2.42 and 6.81 ± 2.21 mV, respectively (p < 0.001), and 7.13 ± 2.41 and 5.90 ± 2.24 mV, respectively (p < 0.001), for the left peroneal nerve. Reductions in the CMAP amplitude of the peroneal nerve were significantly lower in the right foot compared to the left foot (−9.58 vs. −16.8, p = 0.043). Application of the FS did not significantly decrease the overall incidence of skin and nail toxicity compared with the left foot during the study period (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: Docetaxel induced motor and sensory PN, but the use of a FS resulted in a smaller reduction in peroneal nerve amplification three months after the end of chemotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain)
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10 pages, 1575 KiB  
Article
One-Year Compliance After Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for Migraine Patients in a Real-World Setting: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
by Mi-kyoung Kang, Jong-Hee Sohn, Myoung-Jin Cha, Yoo Hwan Kim, Yooha Hong, Hee-Jin Im and Soo-Jin Cho
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(3), 734; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14030734 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 840
Abstract
Background: Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) are a breakthrough migraine treatment, but long-term compliance under limited public insurance coverage has not been well known. This study explores one-year treatment patterns and outcomes of CGRP mAbs using real-world data. Methods: This multicenter [...] Read more.
Background: Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) are a breakthrough migraine treatment, but long-term compliance under limited public insurance coverage has not been well known. This study explores one-year treatment patterns and outcomes of CGRP mAbs using real-world data. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included migraine patients treated with CGRP monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) from July 2022 to June 2023. Treatment discontinuation was defined as a gap of over 60 days between injections. Among patients with 12 months of follow-up, adherence was measured using the Proportion of Days Covered (PDC), calculated as the ratio of days covered to the follow-up duration, with PDC ≥ 80% indicating good adherence. Efficacy was also assessed, defined as a ≥50% reduction in monthly headache days and acute medication use. Results: The study included 140 patients (mean age 44.6 ± 12.1 years; 82.9% female). Migraine without aura was predominant (93.6%), and 65.0% had chronic migraine. CGRP mAbs discontinuation occurred in 71.4% of patients, primarily due to headache improvement (22.9%) or lack of efficacy (15.0%). Among 81 patients with 12 months of follow-up, good adherence was observed in 40.7% of patients. Among these patients, 60.6% achieved a ≥50% reduction in monthly headache days, and 51.9% showed a ≥50% reduction in monthly acute medication use. Conclusions: More than two-thirds of patients discontinued the CGRP mAb within 1 year, so these findings emphasize the need for strategies to improve adherence and optimize follow-up plans to enhance patient support. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain)
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12 pages, 1479 KiB  
Article
The Importance of Bright Spotty Lesions on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Predicting Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Myelitis
by Je Hong Min, Sung-Yeon Sohn and In Soo Joo
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(24), 7820; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13247820 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 672
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) stands as one of the most debilitating complications in patients with myelitis owing to its challenging management. Bright spotty lesions (BSLs) are frequently observed in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), but few reports have discussed CNP in [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) stands as one of the most debilitating complications in patients with myelitis owing to its challenging management. Bright spotty lesions (BSLs) are frequently observed in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), but few reports have discussed CNP in myelitis. We aim to demonstrate that BSLs could be one of the potential prognostic factors for CNP development in myelitis. Methods: We examined 63 patients diagnosed with myelitis. Patients were categorized into CNP and non-CNP groups. We assessed the severity of clinical symptoms and the oral steroid dose administered after pulse therapy. Spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of each patient was reviewed to analyze the characteristics of myelitis. Serological and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings were also examined to confirm the etiology. Results: CNP was observed in 27 patients (42.9%). The mean onset age of patients with CNP was 45.26 ± 14.16 years. The MRI lesions exhibited more enhanced features and bright spotty lesions (BSLs) in the CNP group (χ2 test, p < 0.05). Patients with CNP received a lower oral steroid dose during the first month after symptom onset (χ2 test, p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with CNP exhibited significant BSLs in their myelitis lesions on spine MRI (OR 4.965; 95% CI, 1.282 to 19.235, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Although the exact mechanism remains unknown, the presence of BSLs on spine MRI could serve as an independent prognostic factor for CNP development. Additionally, our study suggests that lower oral steroid doses administered immediately after symptom onset are associated with CNP development. Further investigation with a larger cohort is warranted to validate our findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Perspectives for Headache and Neuropathic Pain)
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