Unique Thalamic Perfusion Abnormalities in Painful But Not Painless Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy.

Dinesh Selvarajah¹, Celia Emery², Rajiv Gandhi², Paul Griffiths¹, Solomon Tesfaye², Iain Wilkinson¹

Painful diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes with serious consequences. Its pathogenesis, however, remains unknown. Using a new technique to analyze dynamic contrast enhanced MR perfusion imaging, we demonstrate unique thalamic microvascular abnormalities in painful but not painless neuropathy. This may provide important clues to the pathogenesis of pain in diabetes.