Longitudinal Follow-up Study About Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) Patients

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a post-traumatic chronic pain condition characterized by pain and other symptoms typically affecting a distal limb. Relatively little is known about the prognosis of the course of CRPS .Currently there is no specific test to diagnose CRPS. The primary objective of the study is to investigate prospectively the evolution of CRPS and the impact of the psychosocial factors on health status, recovery, quality of life, and working status of CRPS patients. The secondary objective of the study is to measure blood parameters in CRPS patients to investigate their evolution during the course of CRPS, and maybe to identify distinctive biomarkers associate with CRPS and that could be potential candidate for diagnosis.

Inclusion Criteria for patients: * CRPS Type I (fulfilling Budapest criteria for research) * Suffering of CRPS in a distal limb (hand or foot) * Age \>18 years * Pain lasting less than 6 months * Good understanding of the French language Inclusion criteria for control: * Not suffering from chronic pain, including CRPS * Age \>18 years Exclusion Criteria for both group: * Known or suspected non-compliance, drug or alcohol abuse, * Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, severe psychological disorders, dementia, etc * For blood sample: diabetes and history of hepatitis B, C, D or HIV infection