Imaging central neurochemical alterations in chronic pain with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been used extensively in the study of various neurobiological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, autism, etc. But its application to chronic pain is relatively new. Not many studies in chronic pain have used 1H-MRS. The unique ability of 1H-MRS to assess both static and dynamic levels of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) gives this method a unique position in neuroscience. Emerging evidence in chronic pain suggests an elevated excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitter ratio is present within brain regions involved in pain processing. The combination of 1H-MRS imaging with pharmacologic interventions holds significant promise as a direct one-to-one matching of disease pathology with drug mechanism of action can be made. As such 1H-MRS may be useful in discovery of novel compounds for chronic pain. Research in these areas may lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of these complex patients.

► Neurochemical imaging methods can assess glutamate and GABA levels in the brain.
► An imbalance of the glutamate/GABA ratio is present in some chronic pain states.
► Proton spectroscopy may be useful for the development of novel analgesics.