The H-Reflex as a Biomarker for Spinal Disinhibition in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy

Lee-Kubli, Corinne, Marshall, Andrew G ORCID: 0000-0001-8273-7089, Malik, Rayaz A and Calcutt, Nigel A (2018) The H-Reflex as a Biomarker for Spinal Disinhibition in Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Current Diabetes Reports, 18 (1). 1-. ISSN 1534-4827, 1539-0829

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Abstract

Purpose of Review Neuropathic pain may arise from multiple mechanisms and locations. Efficacy of current treatments for painful diabetic neuropathy is limited to an unpredictable subset of patients, possibly reflecting diversity of pain generator mechanisms, and there is a lack of targeted treatments for individual patients. This review summarizes preclinical evidence supporting a role for spinal disinhibition in painful diabetic neuropathy, the physiology and pharmacology of rate-dependent depression (RDD) of the spinal H-reflex and the translational potential of using RDD as a biomarker of spinally mediated pain. Recent Findings Impaired RDD occurs in animal models of diabetes and was also detected in diabetic patients with painful vs painless neuropathy. Summary RDD status can be determined using standard neurophysiological equipment. Loss of RDD may provide a clinical biomarker of spinal disinhibition, thereby enabling a personalized medicine approach to selection of current treatment options and enrichment of future clinical trial populations.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Rate-dependent depression, Spinal disinhibition, Neuropathic pain, Diabetic neuropathy, H-reflex, KCC2
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	02 Mar 2020 16:37
Last Modified:	01 Mar 2026 10:39
DOI:	10.1007/s11892-018-0969-5
Open Access URL:	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC68765...
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3076654
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