Altered pain perception in children with chronic tension-type headache: Is this a sign of central sensitisation?

Cephalalgia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 454-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Britt L Soee ◽  
Lise L Thomsen ◽  
Svend Kreiner ◽  
Birte Tornoe ◽  
Liselotte Skov

Aim The aim of this article is to investigate if children (7–17 years) with frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) or chronic TTH (CTTH) have an altered pain perception compared to healthy controls. Methods We applied a pressure of five increasing intensities to m. trapezius and m. temporalis with a Somedic Algometer II. Visual analogue scale-score was rated and area under the curve (AUC) calculated. An average AUC in each person was used as an outcome variable in further univariate multiple linear regression analysis because factor analysis showed that AUC represents only one dimension underlying both muscles. Results Participants included 22 children with FETTH, 36 children with CTTH and 57 controls. The CTTH group had a significantly higher AUC compared to the control group ( p < 0.001). The FETTH group represented an intermediate state. AUC did not change with increasing age, headache years, headache intensity, headache frequency or sex. Conclusion Children with CTTH show significantly increased pain sensitivity in a range of pressures compared to the FETTH group and the controls. Since AUC in m. trapezius and m. temporalis represents only one general latent tenderness, it might indicate that the altered pain perception is mainly due to central sensitisation.

Cephalalgia ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hartmut Göbel ◽  
Lars Weigle ◽  
Peter Kropp ◽  
Dieter Soyka

We investigated whether experimentally determined, suprathreshold pain sensitivity of pericranial musculature in patients with tension-type headache differs from that of migraine patients or from that of healthy subjects. Furthermore, we looked to see whether differences could be found in the effects of experimental pain induction on EMG activity of pericranial musculature and whether subgroups could be discovered with higher and lower pericranial pain sensitivity within the three diagnostic groups in terms of neurophysiological, psychological and clinical variables. In 20 patients with tension-type headache, 23 patients with migraine without aura, and 29 healthy individuals experimental pain was induced in the temporal muscle by mechanical pressure; pain sensitivity in the entire metrically subdivided suprathreshold pain sensitivity range was measured. Surface EMG activity of pericranial muscles was determined before, during and after experimental pain induction. In addition, headache characteristics as well as personality and mood states were determined and recorded in a standardized fashion. There were no significant differences in pain sensitivity of pericranial musculature between the three groups. Patients with tension-type headache showed significantly higher EMG scores during suprathreshold pain stimulation than did migraine patients. EMG scores of healthy subjects fell between these two groups. With respect to pericranial tenderness significant differences in clinical, neurophysiological and psychological variables were found only between subgroups within the group of patients with tension-type headache. The results indicate that significant differences in the examined groups are found not in pain perception but in the processing or reaction to experimental headache stimuli. In patients with tension-type headache subgroups evolve based on pericranial pain sensitivity with quantitatively and/or qualitatively impaired reactions; for this reason diagnostic grouping according to the IHS classification seems to be pathophysiologically relevant. The intraindividual phasic comparison of pain reactions appears to be more important than the absolute interindividual tonic comparison.


Author(s):  
Hasan Hüseyin Özdemir ◽  
Ahmet Dönder

Abstract Objectives A tension headache is the most common type of headache, and its causes are multifactorial. A relationship has been shown between migraine headaches and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). In this study, we investigated the NLR, PLR, and serum CRP levels in frequent episodic tension-type headache (FETTH) and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) patients. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 64 patients with FETTH, 80 patients with CTTH, and 60 healthy controls who were followed up in the neurology clinic. Hematological parameters were compared between the patient and control groups. Results In CTTH patients, platelets, NLR, PLR, and CRP values were statistically higher than in FETTH patients and patients in the control group. In FETTH patients, the PLR value was higher than in patients in the control group, but there was no statistically significant difference in NLR and CRP values between FETTH patients and patients in the control group. Also, there was no correlation between these values and age and gender. Conclusion Increase platelet count might have an effect on tension-type headache pathophysiology. Systemic inflammation parameters were shown to be significantly higher in CTTH patients. More comprehensive studies are needed to evaluate the effect of systemic inflammation on the chronicity of tension headaches.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
pp. 786-789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Evers ◽  

In order to evaluate a possible association between migraine and idiopathic narcolepsy, we performed a multicentre case-control study on the comorbidity of narcolepsy and different headaches. In total, 96 patients with idiopathic narcolepsy were enrolled. The migraine frequency in the patients and in the control group was 21.9% and 19.8%, respectively ( P = 0.722). The migraine features did not differ significantly between both groups. However, headache fulfilling the criteria for tension-type headache was significantly more often reported by narcolepsy patients than by the control group (60.3% vs. 40.7%, P = 0.006). We conclude that there is no association between migraine and narcolepsy but that patients with narcolepsy show more unspecific headache, probably due to sleep disturbances.


Cephalalgia ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Shimomura ◽  
H Kowa ◽  
T Nakano ◽  
A Kitano ◽  
H Marukawa ◽  
...  

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a radical-scavenging enzyme. We determined Cu, Zn-SOD concentrations and activities in platelets from subjects with migraine and tension-type headaches. Thirty migraine without aura (MWoA) patients, 9 migraine with aura (MWA) patients, and 53 tension-type headache patients were selected for study. Thirty healthy volunteers composed the control group. Concentrations of platelet SOD were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. The activity of platelet SOD was determined by measuring reductivity of nitroblue tetrazolium. Low concentrations of platelet SOD were found in patients with MWA and MWoA. Platelet SOD activity decreased in MWA patients but not in patients with MWoA or tension-type headaches. These findings suggest vulnerability to oxidative stress in patients with migraine. It is suggested that low platelet SOD levels may play an important role in the etiology of migraine.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (16) ◽  
pp. 1311-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Margari ◽  
Elisabetta Lucarelli ◽  
Francesco Craig ◽  
Maria G Petruzzelli ◽  
Paola A Lecce ◽  
...  

Background Recurrent headache is common in childhood, but there is not a great amount of data on the associations between headaches and psychopathology in children. Objective The aim of this study is to examine the relationships between primary headaches and psychopathology in children, using both the categorical and dimensional assessment. Methods The sample consisted of 70 patients with primary headache compared to a matched sample of 50 healthy children. Psychiatric comorbidity was defined according to the diagnostic criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders. Child psychopathology outcomes were assessed using child- and parent-reported standardized instruments. Results Internalizing and externalizing problems were significantly represented among children with headaches compared to the control group, respectively 63% and 27%, without significant differences between migraine and tension-type headache children. Moreover, a total of 26% of the children with a headache reported psychiatric comorbidity such as anxiety and mood disorders. Conclusion The dimensional approach improves accuracy in the recognition of emotional and behavioral problems compared to the categorical approach; however, the use of both of these approaches could be useful for clinical practice, treatment and research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hosseinifar ◽  
Razieh Bazghandi ◽  
Zahra Azimi ◽  
Bahareh Khodadadi Bohlouli

PURPOSE: Tension type headache (TTH) is one of the most prevalent types of headache. TTH is classified as episodic if it occurs on less than 15 days a month and as chronic if it occurs more often. Tension, anxiety and depression are some etiological factors for TTH which leads to work efficiency reduction. Today the interest in non-pharmacological methods is increasing; massage is one of these approaches which has no side effects. Aim of this study was to investigate the effects of neck Myofascial Release (MFR) techniques and exercise therapy on pain intensity and disability in patients with chronic tension-type headache.METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study was investigated on 30 females suffering from TTH. Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups (n=15). The MFR group received neck MFR massage and exercise therapy four times a week for 3 weeks, each session lasting 45 minutes. Control group had no intervention. Outcomes were headache intensity and disability measured by numerical rating scale (NRS) and headache disability index (HDI), respectively. Data was analysed through independent and pair t-test.RESULTS: Between group comparison showed significant improvement of headache intensity and disability rate in MFR group (p<0.05) than control group (p=0.000).DISCUSSION: This study provides evidences that MFR technique and exercise therapy have significant effect on patients with TTH.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 1537-1544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-qing Huang ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Ji-yan Chen ◽  
Ying-ling Zhou ◽  
An-ping Cai ◽  
...  

Background/Aims: Although it is widely acknowledged that atherosclerosis is mainly a chronic inflammatory process, in which both miR-29b and interleukin-6 (IL-6) play multifaceted roles, the association between miR-29b and IL-6 remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between miR-29b and IL-6 and to test whether circulating levels of miR-29b and IL-6 could predict atherosclerosis. Methods: A total of 170 participants were divided into two groups according to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT): study group (CIMT ≥ 0.9mm) and control group (CIMT < 0.9mm). Levels of circulating miR-29b and IL-6 were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The association of miR-29b and IL-6 levels with CIMT was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The study group showed higher miR-29b levels (31.61 ± 3.05 vs. 27.91 ± 1.71 Ct, p < 0.001) and IL-6 levels (3.40 ± 0.67 vs. 2.99 ± 0.37 pg/ml, p < 0.001), compared with the control group. CIMT was positively correlated with miR-29b (r = 0.587, p < 0.001) and IL-6 (r = 0.410, p < 0.001), and miR-29b levels were also correlated with IL-6 (r = 0.242, p = 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis also showed that CIMT was positively correlated with miR-29b and IL-6. After adjustment for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and C-reactive protein, CIMT was still closely correlated with miR-29b and IL-6. The combination of miR-29b and IL-6 (AUC = 0.901, p < 0.001) offered a better predictive index for atherosclerosis than either miR-29b (AUC = 0.867, p < 0.001) or IL-6 (AUC = 0.747, p < 0.001) alone. Conclusion: Circulating levels of miR-29b and IL-6 may be independently correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis, and may serve as novel biomarkers for the identification of atherosclerosis.


Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 1902-1912
Author(s):  
Naama Assayag ◽  
Yoram Bonneh ◽  
Shula Parush ◽  
Haim Mell ◽  
Ricky Kaplan Neeman ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to characterize individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) in self-perception of pain sensitivity, experimental auditory aversiveness, and non-noxious sensory responsiveness, as well as examine the associations with SUD. Methods Therapeutic community (TC) individuals with SUD (N = 63, male 88.9%) and healthy controls (N = 60, male 86.7%) completed the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ) and the Sensory Responsiveness Questionnaire–Intensity Scale (SRQ-IS), followed by a psychophysical auditory battery, the Battery of Averseness to Sounds (BAS)–Revised. Results The SUD group scored higher on the PSQ (P &lt; 0.0001), BAS-R aversiveness (P &lt; 0.0001), BAS-R-unpleasantness (P &lt; 0.0001), and on the aftersensation of auditory aversiveness (P &lt; 0.0001) and unpleasantness (P &lt; 0.000). Fifty-four percent of the SUD group vs 11.7% of the control group were identified as having sensory modulation dysfunction (SMD; P &lt; 0.0001). Logistic regression modeling revealed that the SRQ-IS-Aversive score had a stronger relationship, indicating a 12.6-times odds ratio for SUD (P = 0.0002). Finally, a risk score calculated from a linear combination of the logistic regression model parameters is presented based on the PSQ and SRQ. Conclusions This is the first study to explore sensory and aversive domains using experimental and self-reporting in situ, revealing pain perception alteration that co-occurs with high prevalence of SMD, specifically of the over-responsive type. Findings may be significant in clinical practice for treating pain, and for expanding therapeutic modalities as part of broader rehabilitation in TC and beyond, to better meet personalized therapy.


2006 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sin Gon Kim ◽  
Ohk Hyun Ryu ◽  
Hee Young Kim ◽  
Kye Won Lee ◽  
Ji A Seo ◽  
...  

Objective: Thiazolidinediones have favorable influences on surrogate markers of atherosclerosis such as adiponectin, and arterial stiffness in diabetic patients. However, it is not well known whether these beneficial effects occur in subjects without diabetes, such as prediabetes or the non-diabetic metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the insulin-sensitizing agent rosiglitazone on circulating adipocytokine levels and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in non-diabetics. Design and methods: Ninety-nine subjects with prediabetes or non-diabetic MetS were randomly assigned to either rosiglitazone or an untreated control group (50 and 49 subjects respectively). The rosiglitazone group was treated daily for 12 weeks with 4 mg rosiglitazone. All subjects received a 75 g oral glucose test (OGTT) before and after treatment. In addition, baPWV, together with the levels of adiponectin, resistin, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined. Results: Rosiglitazone treatment significantly increased circulating adiponectin levels (P < 0.001) relative to the control group (P = 0.21). Plasma resistin levels were unchanged in both the rosiglitazone-treated and -untreated groups, but baPWV and hsCRP were significantly decreased (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003 respectively) in the rosiglitazone group only. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that changes in plasma adiponectin and baPWV were significantly affected by rosiglitazone treatment. Conclusions: These data suggest that rosiglitazone may have an anti-atherogenic effect in subjects with prediabetes or non-diabetic MetS.


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