Different patterns of hyperalgesia induced by experimental inflammation in human skin

Summary Different types of hyperalgesia were studied after experimental induction of inflammation in small skin areas of healthy volunteers either by topical application of capsaicin solution (1 % in 70% ethanol) or by briefly freezing a skin area of similar size to −28°C. Sensory tests were performed 30 min after capsaicin application and 22 h after freeze lesions. Heat pain thresholds were lowered after both treatments, probably due to nociceptor sensitization. Hyperalgesia to four types of mechanical stimulation was studied. (i) Hyperalgesia to punctate stimuli was encountered at the skin site directly affected by the noxious chemical or freeze stimulus (1° zone) and in the surrounding skin (2° zone) in both models though the area of 2° hyperalgesia to punctate stimuli after freezing was smaller than after capsaicin. (ii) Hyperalgesia to gently brushing the skin was prominent after capsaicin in 1° and 2° zone, but almost absent after freezing. It was concluded that both hyperalgesia to punctate stimuli and brush-evoked pain are due to central nervous plasticity changes rather than nociceptor sensitization. As revealed by differential nerve blocks, brush-evoked pain is mediated by low threshold mechanosensitive Aβ-fibres, whilst hyperalgesia to punctate stimuli can be elicited when only C-fibres conduct. In contrast to hyperalgesia to punctate stimuli it requires continuous background discharges in nociceptor units. (iii) Pressure hyperalgesia to tonic stimulation with a blunt probe was encountered in the 1° zone of both types of inflammation and is probably due to recruitment of sensitized nociceptor units. (iv) Impact hyperalgesia was studied by shooting small bullets against the skin at predetermined velocities. It was found in the 1° zone after freezing and absent in the capsaicin model. Differential nerve blocks revealed that it is probably mediated by sensitized C-fibres. In conclusion, different types of inflammatory changes may result in characteristic different patterns of hyperalgesia.