HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Correspondence: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Correspondence are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Salar, G. Articles by Mingrino, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Salar, G. Articles by Mingrino, S.

Cortical evoked responses and transcutaneous electrotherapy

Neurosurgical Institute, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Percutaneous electrostimulation, acupuncture, and direct stimulation of the central nervous system are supposed to be capable of reducing painful sensation by releasing enkephalins and endorphins. We treated six volunteers with electrotherapy, obtaining in all cases a clear reduction of the pain induced by electric stimulation of the median nerve at the wrist. During the treatment, the administration of naloxone, an antagonist of morphine, in four subjects provoked a short but clear and immediate return of pain. In the other two cases, the drug provoked a further decrease of the painful sensation. During electrostimulation in all patients, the somatosensory evoked potentials showed a statistically significant decrease. In the four "haloxone-responsive" subjects, the cortical evoked responses returned to basal amplitude after naloxone. In the two patients with a clinically paradoxic response, nonsignificant modification in the cortical evoked potentials was noted.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Salar, Istituto di Neurochirurgia della Università di Padova, via Giustiniani 5,35100, Padova, Italy.

Accepted for publication September 21, 1979.