C03
Transcranial direct current stimulation for chronic, IBD-associated abdominal pain and the relation of pain perception and the intestinal epithelial barrier
Dr. Magdalena Prüß & Dr. Michael Schumann & Prof. Dr. Raja Atreya
A clinical phase-III-study was designed to test tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation) on its analgesic effects in IBD-patients with chronic abdominal pain. fMRI scans will be performed in these patients in order to investigate changes in the central nervous system. Based on preliminary data we propose a brain – gut interaction. This will be evaluated by analyzing the effects of tDCS on the intestinal epithelial barrier. To reveal the mechanisms involved, we included a murine model of intestinal inflammation-associated pain where the effects of tDCS on the enteric nervous system, intestinal barrier, neurotransmitters as well as perineural immune cells will be investigated.