Figure 3

ARA 290 administration increases the threshold for thermal pain and decreases thermal sensitivity in the hand. The CPT, HPT and TSL of most patients were within normal limits at baseline (Table 1). After ARA 290 administration, the mean threshold for determining a painful cold (p = 0.027; paired t test compared with baseline) or hot (p = 0.032) stimulus increased, whereas the placebo group remained unchanged (p = ns). Similarly, the thermal sensory limen (the temperature threshold at which they can discriminate a hot or cold stimulus) increased in the ARA 290 after exposure (p = 0.008). This decreased thermal sensitivity could correspond to reduced symptoms of temperature-induced allodynia. After ARA 290 treatment, the CPT, HPT and TSL remained within the normal range. The normative means for CPT, HPT and TSL were 9.7 ± 0.5, 44.8 ± 0.2 and 3.0 ± 0.1°C, respectively. Similar smaller changes were noted for the face, as well as a nonsignificant trend for the foot (data not shown).