Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type I after Stroke

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic painful, limb-confined condition with autonomic and inflammatory characteristics. Although the exact cause is still poorly understood, facilitated neurogenic inflammation, pathologic sympathetic-afferent coupling, and maladaptive neuroplasticity of CNS are suggested as major pathophysiology of CRPS. While acute CRPS may resolve with good prognosis, chronic CRPS is likely to continue painful condition, thus it is recommended to start early management with comprehensive, multidisciplinary intervention including physical and occupational therapy. It still lacks of studies regarding CRPS after stroke which applied new diagnostic criteria, although it was established in the year of 2004. Therefore, further researches are needed regarding the CRPS after stroke using new diagnostic criteria. (Brain & NeuroRehabilitation 2016; 9: 1-5)