Sensory threshold changes without initial pain or alterations in cutaneous blood flow, in the area of secondary hyperalgesia caused by topical application of capsaicin in humans

Abstract

Changes in von Frey hair perception, pricking pain, and vibration thresholds were examined in six healthy human adults, in the zone of secondary hyperalgesia, 45 min following the topical application of capsaicin at concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1 mg/ml. In two of these subjects, cutaneous blood flow was monitored at 10-min intervals, before, during and after capsaicin application, using laser Doppler perfusion imaging. Thresholds for all three parameters were significantly reduced after capsaicin treatment, in a dose-dependent manner. However, there was no visible skin flare, and no change in cutaneous blood flow at these doses of capsaicin. The effects on von Frey perception threshold and vibration threshold have not been demonstrated previously, and may be indicative of central changes, initiated by afferent fibres (presumably C fibres) that are not vasoactive.