There has been little progress for effective treatment of pain in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients. Many organizations have recognized that understanding the causes and reducing the burden of pain in SCD is critical in order to improve the quality of life in SCD patients. As patients with SCD face the challenge of living with both acute and chronic pain which is often improperly treated, our translational and interdisciplinary project aims to identify objective measures of pain sensitivity and its biochemical and genetic correlates. We hypothesize that SCD patients will have decreased tolerance to thermal and electrical stimuli.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
96
Children's National Health System
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Children's National Medical Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Measuring thermal responsiveness (perception and tolerance) in the outpatient groups.
Using a TSA (thermal sensory analyzer), the patients hot and cold perception and tolerance will be measured in the outpatient groups (high-pain and low-pain frequency and controls).
Time frame: change between baseline and at 90day follow-up
Measuring thermal responsiveness (perception and tolerance) in the inpatient groups.
Using a TSA thermal sensory analyzer, the patients hot and cold perception and tolerance will be measured in the inpatient groups (pain crisis and pain service).
Time frame: change over 8 consecutive days
Measure mechanical responsiveness in outpatient groups.
Using the Wagner PPIX 50 Pressure device, patient's tolerance to pressure is assessed in the outpatient groups (high-pain and low-pain frequency and controls).
Time frame: change between baseline and 90 day follow-up
Measure mechanical responsiveness in inpatient groups.
Using the Wagner PPIX 50 Pressure device, patient's tolerance to pressure is assessed in the inpatient groups (pain crisis and pain service).
Time frame: change over 8 consecutive days
Measuring the pupil responsiveness in outpatient groups.
Using the Pupillometer device, pupil responses are assessed in the outpatient groups (high-pain and low-pain frequency and controls).
Time frame: change between baseline and 90 day follow-up
Measuring the pupil responsiveness in inpatient groups.
Using the Pupillometer device, pupil responses are assessed in the inpatient groups (pain service and pain crisis).
Time frame: change over 8 consecutive days
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Measuring electrical sensitivity in outpatient groups.
Using the Neurometer device, to assess electrical sensory perception and tolerance in the outpatient groups (high-pain and low-pain frequency and control).
Time frame: change between baseline and at 90day follow-up
Measuring electrical sensitivity in inpatient groups.
Using the Neurometer device, to assess electrical sensory perception and tolerance in the outpatient groups (pain service and pain crisis).
Time frame: change over 8 consecutive days