27.10.11 - In the end of 2011 TREND strikes a balance
Meeting with the ‘committee of wise people’ and presentation of final report
The TREND consortium has been financed through the Dutch Government from 2004 – 2011, with allocated money obtained from revenues of the gas industry. Recently the final report has appeared about the past years of research of TREND. At October 7, 2011, the final report has been presented to the ‘committee of wise people’, which is evaluating all similar consortia. TREND was represented by Ilona Thomassen of the patient society, Lucas Noldus on behalf of the participating companies and the board of TREND, Bob van Hilten and Frans van der Helm. Also present were representatives of the Dutch ministry of Health.
TREND results
In the past years TREND has achieved excellent results. TREND is the largest research consortium for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in the world, and is in charge of the largest data base with patient data. The patient data can be used to make comparisons which will lead to a better understanding of the disease itself and its course. TREND researchers had an important role in establishing the so-called ‘Budapest’ criteria, a new international consensus about the diagnosis of CRPS. Also TREND researchers have been involved in the development of the ‘CBO guide lines’, which are used by Dutch physicians to diagnose and treat CRPS patients. TREND researchers have frequently presented their work in the Netherlands and abroad, which has resulted in a better view on CRPS for the caregivers.
The TREND research has disclosed the prevalence and incidence of CRPS (how many patients are involved, and how many new patients each year acquire the disease). It was also discovered that the disease often starts with inflammatory symptoms resulting from a trauma, which later on may lead to a disregulation of the central nervous system. 75% of the patients are female. The large number of studies regarding effective medication has resulted in a guideline for pharmaceutical treatment. Experiments have been done with patients which have ‘dystonia’, a high muscle tonus resulting in awkward postures of the hand, foot or the whole limb. The experiments supported the hypothesis that there presumably is a kind of ‘disinhibition’ in the central nervous system, preventing the patients to have full control over their movements. In addition, all possible data are being analysed for possible genetic factors for CRPS.
In the eight years of the TREND consortium excellent results have been obtained, and many scientific publications have appeared. Nine scientists of the TREND consortium are in the international top 25 of scientists in the field of CRPS. The ‘committee of wise people’ has expressed their appreciation about the results obtained in the past years.
End of the funding
Unfortunately the funding of the TREND consortium will end at December 31, 2011. The participating universities in TREND have announced to continue the research, albeit on a smaller scale since we are forced to seek funding from other sources.