Arthritis exacerbated following sympathectomy

"...capsaicin-eenhanced DRRs are blocked by sympathecotmy. In contrast, arthritis even be exacerbated following sympathectomy. Surgical sympathectomy does exert profound effects on immune system stimulation in the early stages of adjuvant arthritis and may therefore affect disease progression through this action."

Furthermore, the sympathetic nervous system may play a regulatory role in secondary lymphoid organs as it has been shown that selective sympathectomy in secondary lympoid organs exacerbates experimental arthritis.

Neurogenic Inflammation in Health and Disease, Volume 8 (NeuroImmune Biology)  By Gabor Jancso

Morphological and functional studies revealed a complex system of primary sensory neurons which parallels the autonomic nervous system not only in its extent, but probably also in its significance. Neuropeptides released from activated nociceptive afferent nerves play a pivotal role in inflammatory reactions and pain, significantly modulate cardiac, vascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal and immune functions and influence the protective, restorative and trophic functions of somatic and visceral tissues.

Publication Date: 2009-01-01

Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technol