MRI and psychometric investigation of BMS pain mechanism. (Version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and psychometric investigation of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) patients’ peripheral and central nervous system pain mechanisms.
IRAS ID
289235
Contact name
Tara Renton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London, Vice President & Vice Principal (Research & Innovation)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
In this research, we will be using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, to characterise the intraoral pain felt by patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and to assess the psychological impact of BMS on them. We aim to investigate the functional changes in brain activity and neural connectivity (central and peripheral pain modulation) during their spontaneous chronic pain and pain relieved period with the help of topical analgesia. We will use different MRI techniques such as functional MRI (fMRI) (assessment of the brain’s functional network),pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labelling (pCASL) (investigation on participant’s regional cerebral blood flow) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) (measures brain biochemical changes in the brain); to analyse the brain neural response during chronic pain and pain relief. The MRI assessments will be conducted before and after exposure to clonazepam mouth rinse. By exposing participants to these interventions, we are separating pains signals that arise from the peripheral nervous system (‘pain site’) and the central nervous system (the brain). Hence, it allows us to observe and measure the brain functions and response during the pain and attenuation of pain after exposure to the analgesic agent (drug acting to relieve pain). Clonazepam has anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects. It is prescribed as part of BMS patients’ standard care. Controlled clinical studies (Kutter Shorrer M. et. al, 2017; Fenelon M. et. al, 2017) have shown significant benefit on the used of topical clonazepam (sucking the tables / mouth rinse) with reduce systemic side effect. Participants will need to answer psychometric questionnaires concerning their pain before each scan session. This study will consists of 2 sessions and will take approximately 2 weeks to complete for each participants.The study will be performed in the Clinical Research Facility KCL, in Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
20/NI/0143
Date of REC Opinion
20 Oct 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion