{"paper_id":"4b0fdad8-53ce-4ed1-9c5c-5340e39ad10d","body_text":"Thesis\nNeuropathic pain in endometriosis\n- Abstract:\n-\nChronic pelvic pain is one of the main symptoms of endometriosis which affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Historically, despite the prevalence of this condition and the impact it has on those affected, endometriosis-associated pain (EAP) has been poorly understood. In this thesis I explore endometriosis-associated pain, specifically the presence of neuropathic pain (pain due to lesion/disease of the somatosensory system). To do this, I use a variety of different techniques including questionnaires, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and quantitative sensory testing (QST).\nTo determine the prevalence of neuropathic pain in a large population is difficult. In this thesis I use an online questionnaire on patient support websites to give an estimation of the proportions of women experiencing neuropathic pain. I investigate differences between those with and without neuropathic pain with respect to pain symptoms, psychological and cognitive function, number of surgeries to the abdomen and duration of pain. I also sub-divided women further based on their sensory symptom profiles. I replicate these findings in a novel cohort and relate them to treatment response.\nCentral nervous system changes have been demonstrated in people with neuropathic pain. In this thesis I investigate the association between neuropathic pain features and functional connectivity of the brain in women with endometriosis-associated pain.\nSensory testing is an important aspect of neuropathic pain research and in this thesis I use QST to investigate sensory perception. A range of stimuli are used to determine whether there are changes in sensory processing in women with endometriosis-associated pain.\nOverall, the aims of the research described in this thesis are to advance knowledge regarding the prevalence of neuropathic pain in endometriosis; how women can be stratified using questionnaires and whether that relates to treatment response; what changes associated with neuropathic pain can be seen in the activity of the brain at rest; and the sensory profiles of women with EAP. Research in the area of EAP is critical to inform clinical practice and improve treatment.\nActions\nAccess Document\n- Files:\n-\n-\n(Preview, Dissemination version, pdf, 3.8MB, Terms of use)\n-\nAuthors\nContributors\n- Division:\n- MSD\n- Department:\n- Clinical Neurosciences\n- Sub department:\n- Clinical Neurosciences\n- Role:\n- Supervisor\n- Role:\n- Supervisor\n- ORCID:\n- 0000-0001-9249-2492\n- Role:\n- Examiner\n- ORCID:\n- 0000-0001-7759-0211\n- Role:\n- Examiner\n- Funding agency for:\n- Vincent, K\n- Grant:\n- Investigator initiated grant\n- Programme:\n- Bayer AG Investigator initiated grant for Pain Mechanisms in Endometriosis\n- Funding agency for:\n- Vincent, K\n- Grant:\n- 777500\n- Programme:\n- This project has received funding from the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement No [777500]. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and EFPIA.\n- DOI:\n- Type of award:\n- DPhil\n- Level of award:\n- Doctoral\n- Awarding institution:\n- University of Oxford\n- Language:\n-\nEnglish\n- Keywords:\n- Subjects:\n- Pubs id:\n-\n1997864\n- Local pid:\n-\npubs:1997864\n- Deposit date:\n-\n2021-08-12\n- ARK identifier:\nTerms of use\n- Copyright holder:\n- Coxon, L\n- Copyright date:\n- 2021\nIf you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record","source_license":"CC0","license_restricted":false}