Department of Neurophysiology, Center for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Ludolf-Krehl-Strasse 13-17, Mannheim, Germany.
Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2012 Jun;16(3):199-206. doi: 10.1007/s11916-012-0261-3.
Quantitative sensory testing (QST) is a widely accepted tool to investigate somatosensory changes in pain patients. Many different protocols have been developed in clinical pain research within recent years. In this review, we provide an overview of QST and tested neuroanatomical pathways, including peripheral and central structures. Based on research studies using animal and human surrogate models of neuropathic pain, possible underlying mechanisms of chronic pain are discussed. Clinically, QST may be useful for 1) the identification of subgroups of patients with different underlying pain mechanisms; 2) prediction of therapeutic outcomes; and 3) quantification of therapeutic interventions in pain therapy. Combined with sensory mapping, QST may provide useful information on the site of neural damage and on mechanisms of positive and negative somatosensory abnormalities. The use of QST in individual patients for diagnostic purposes leading to individualized therapy is an interesting concept, but needs further validation.
定量感觉测试（QST）是一种广泛接受的方法，用于研究疼痛患者的躯体感觉变化。近年来，在临床疼痛研究中已经开发出许多不同的方案。在这篇综述中，我们提供了 QST 和测试的神经解剖途径的概述，包括外周和中枢结构。基于使用动物和人类神经性疼痛替代模型的研究，讨论了慢性疼痛的可能潜在机制。临床上，QST 可能对以下方面有用：1）识别具有不同潜在疼痛机制的患者亚组；2）预测治疗效果；3）量化疼痛治疗中的治疗干预措施。与感觉映射相结合，QST 可能提供有关神经损伤部位和正、负躯体感觉异常机制的有用信息。在个别患者中使用 QST 进行诊断目的以实现个体化治疗是一个有趣的概念，但需要进一步验证。
