The Role of Peripheral N‐Methyl‐D‐Asparate (NMDA) Receptors in Itch and Pain: A Narrative Review

NMDA receptors, predominantly located in the central nervous system and known for their roles in synaptic plasticity and central sensitisation of pain and itch, are also expressed in peripheral sensory neurons. Emerging evidence suggests that peripheral NMDA receptors contribute to pathological pain and potentially itch, identifying them as promising therapeutic targets. The aim of this review is to explore the role of peripheral NMDA receptors in pain and itch and to summarise the effectiveness of topical NMDA antagonists in managing these sensations.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  European Journal of Pain

• Publication date

  2025-07-21

• Fields of study

  Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1002/ejp.70082PMID 40689848PMCID 12279002
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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