Neuroinflammation and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Abstract

Chronic pain is partially sustained by central sensitization, a synaptic plasticity phenomenon, and enhanced neuronal responsiveness following painful insults in the central pain pathways. Accumulating studies indicates that neuroinflammation in the peripheral and central nervous system also drives central sensitization. The activation of glial cells such as microglia and astrocytes in the spinal cord and brain is a distinctive feature of neuroinflammation, leading to the discharge of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Recent studies suggest that modulating neuroinflammation could be used as therapeutic target in chronic pelvic pain. One of the promising formula is represented by a co-micronization of palmitoylethanolamide and polidatin, two strong natural compounds with a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this chapter we focused our attention on the role of neuroinflammation in chronic pelvic pain and its newest possible treatment.