Dear Friends and Colleagues,
The Special Interest Group on Neuropathic Pain
(NeuPSIG) of the International Association for the Study of Pain
(IASP®) announces an important meeting to be held in Madrid,
Spain on May 13-16, 2004.
Research and management of neuropathic pain is
currently at an important crossroad. Basic scientists have suggested
a switch from a diagnosis-oriented approach to a mechanism-based
approach for treatment. Advances in neuroimaging, clinical neurophysiology,
neuroimmunology, and quantitative sensory testing allow more precise
assessment of such mechanisms in individual patients. Drugs that
target these mechanisms are the aim of R&D programs in many
pharmaceutical companies. These drug therapies compete with traditional
and new neuroaugmentative or neuroablative surgical techniques.
Regulatory agencies are setting guidelines for the approval of treatment
paradigms specific for neuropathic pain. Important clinical trials
with new drugs have started to yield promising results, giving rise
to the hope that formerly "intractable" neuropathic pain
syndromes may finally be alleviated. At the same time we gain more
insight into the epidemiology of neuropathic pain in many neurological
disorders, and into ways of preventing some of the neuropathic pain
conditions.
These and other topics will be covered by leading
experts at the International Congress on Neuropathic Pain in Madrid,
Spain (May 13-16, 2004). Plenary sessions, topical workshops and
poster presentations will be the backbone of the scientific program,
a program designed to fulfill the aim of NeuPSIG "to advance
the understanding of mechanisms, assessment, prevention and treatment
of neuropathic pain".
This aim is shared by more than 500 IASP members,
who have joined NeuPSIG in its first year, and this Congress will
bring you the latest and most up-to-date information from the best
sources. It will be an important milestone for basic scientists,
clinical scientists and practicing clinicians from all disciplines
with an interest in furthering the understanding and care of patients
with neuropathic pain.
My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming you
to Madrid and to a successful Congress.
 Rolf-Detlef
Treede, MD
Professor of Neurophysiology
Chair, Scientific Programme Committee
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