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Description

Background: Chronic low back pain encompasses heterogeneous mechanical, neuropathic, nociplastic, and myofascial presentations that may reflect distinct neuroimmune mechanisms. We synthesized evidence linking these phenotypes to measurable biological features and clinically relevant treatment strategies.

Methods: We conducted a structured literature search of MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies published from January 2005 through January 2025. Systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and mechanistic studies addressing neuroinflammation, glial activation, central sensitization, biomarkers, or imaging were organized according to four clinically relevant pain phenotypes and translational readiness.

Results: Neuroimmune findings differed across axial mechanical, radicular neuropathic, nociplastic, and myofascial pain. Imaging of the 18-kDa translocator protein demonstrated phenotype-associated neuroinflammatory patterns, whereas shear wave elastography provided an objective measure of myofascial trigger-point stiffness. Combining inflammatory biomarkers with psychosocial characteristics improved chronic pain prediction, with reported areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve ranging from 0.69 to 0.92. Evidence also supported phenotype-aligned approaches including targeted rehabilitation, ultrasound-guided dry needling, dorsal root ganglion stimulation, and spinal cord stimulation. However, biomarker validation, imaging standardization, and clinical availability varied substantially.

Conclusion: Neuroimmune phenotyping provides a framework for connecting pain mechanisms with diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in chronic low back pain. Shear wave elastography and selected inflammatory measures appear closest to clinical implementation, while advanced neuroimaging and multi-omic approaches remain investigational. Phenotype-enriched prospective trials are needed before routine precision-guided management can be established.

Publication Date

9-5-2026

Keywords

chronic low back pain, imaging biomarkers, neuroimmune mechanisms, neuroinflammation, pain phenotyping, precision rehabilitation

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Neurology | Surgery

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Comments

This article is the author's final published version in Current Pain and Headache Reports, Volume 30, Issue 1, 2026, Article number 119.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-026-01561-w. Copyright © The Author(s) 2026.

Neuroimmune Phenotyping as the Next Frontier in Chronic Pain Medicine for Musculoskeletal Back Pain

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