Central post-stroke pain

Central post-stroke pain (CPSP) is known since the famous Dejerine-Roussy syndrome and its description has not improved. The subject has however been revived over the last decade thanks to advances in central nervous system imaging with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the description of allodynia functional phenomena with fMRI, the study of opioid receptors, and above all, the analysis of pain pathways by laser-evoked potentials. Progress has also occurred in CPSP treatment with motor cortex stimulation, which probably opens a period of neuromodulation of the cortical areas controlling pain. The thalamus plays a prominent role in this disorder of central control of pain. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.