Site matters: Central neuropathic pain characteristics and somatosensory findings after brain and spinal cord lesions

Background It is unknown if different etiologies or lesion topographies influence central neuropathic pain (CNP) clinical manifestation. Methods We explored the symptom–somatosensory profile relationships in CNP patients with different types of lesions to the central nervous system to gain insight into CNP mechanisms. We compared the CNP profile through pain descriptors, standardized bedside examination, and quantitative sensory test in two different etiologies with segregated lesion locations: the brain, central poststroke pain (CPSP, n = 39), and the spinal cord central pain due to spinal cord injury (CPSCI, n = 40) in neuromyelitis optica. Results Results are expressed as median (25th to 75th percentiles). CPSP presented higher evoked and paroxysmal pain scores compared to CPSCI (p