Alterations in resting‐state regional cerebral blood flow demonstrate ongoing pain in osteoarthritis: An arterial spin‐labeled magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

This is the first quantitative endogenous perfusion MRI study of the cerebral representation of ongoing, persistent pain due to OA. Observed rCBF changes potentially indicate dysregulated CNS appraisal and modulation of pain, most likely the maladaptive neuroplastic sequelae of living with painful OA. Understanding the neural basis of ongoing pain is likely to be important in developing novel treatment strategies.