Pain Research & Management最新文献

{"title":"Effects of the MR-DTI Characteristics of the Trigeminal Ganglion Target on Radiofrequency Treatment in Patients with Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Observational Clinical Study.","authors":"Xu Su, Zhengming Wang, Min Cheng, Yu Tian, Chao Du","doi":"10.1155/2023/1988926","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2023/1988926","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In the percutaneous treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN), the difficulty in accessing the foramen ovale (FO) has been widely recognized. However, the most efficient percutaneous treatment target is the so-called trigeminal ganglion target (TGT). We propose that the TGT in a puncture can be identified by magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI).</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To observe the effect of the characteristics of the TGT as detected by MR-DTI on percutaneous stereotactic radiofrequency rhizotomy (PSR) in TN patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In our observational study, we preoperatively performed MR-DTI and/or 3D-CT for 48 TN patients, analyzed the characteristics of the TGT and/or FO, and designed appropriate surgical schemes for producing an accurate PSR trajectory according to these characteristics. The position and size of the TGT aided in adjusting the puncture angle and guiding the approach. Then, we successfully performed a customized PSR guided by the characteristics of the FO or TGT. During the postoperative and follow-up periods, we assessed the effect of treatment with pain scores and MR-DTI findings.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The characteristics of the TGT vary from patient to patient. We performed PSR with a single puncture guided by MR-DTI and 3D-CT in 16 patients, and only one patient required three punctures. All three of these punctures reached the FO target, as confirmed by intraoperative C-arm X-ray. We finally reached the TGT successfully after 2 additional attempts, confirming that the probe reached the TGT that accurately covered the pain territory with an electrophysiology test. The characteristics of the TGT were negatively correlated with the number of PSR punctures. Fewer complications occurred for PSRs guided by the TGT than for PSRs guided by the FO.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The characteristics of the TGT are correlated with the number of punctures in the PSR. The application of MR-DTI for detecting the size of the TGT is an important step in predicting the difficulty of puncture. The PSR approach can be guided by the TGT and FO for TN patients who present with multiple adverse factors and thus may be beneficial in reducing the number of complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"1988926"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10266916/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9653944","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Positive Preemptive Analgesia Effectiveness of Pregabalin Combined with Celecoxib in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Controlled Randomized Study.","authors":"Yi Zhou, Xiaoyan Liu, Chuan Ding, Bingyan Xiang, Ling Yan","doi":"10.1155/2023/7088004","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2023/7088004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of the present study (a randomized clinical trial) was to evaluate the preemptive analgesic effects of pregabalin combined with celecoxib in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>From January 2019 to June 2021, we enrolled 149 patients who underwent TKA and divided them into four groups: the placebo group (<i>n</i> = 36), celecoxib group (<i>n</i> = 38), pregabalin group (<i>n</i> = 38), and combination group (<i>n</i> = 37). Each group was given the corresponding preemptive analgesia regimen at 12 and 2 hours before surgery. The pain score at rest and upon movement, cumulative dosage of sufentanil, knee range of motion (ROM), high-sensitivityC-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, and adverse effects were evaluated after TKA to compare the effects of the preemptive analgesia regimens among the four groups.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The pain scores upon movement were significantly lower in the combination group than in the other three groups at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery (<i>P</i> < 0.05). The cumulative dose of sufentanil within 48 hours after surgery was lowest in the combined group among the four groups (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Hs-CRP, ROM, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were within 72 hours after surgery significantly improved in the combination group compared with those of the three other groups (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The preemptive analgesia regimen of pregabalin combined with celecoxib had positive effects on improving acute pain and reducing the cumulative dose of opioids after TKA. This trial is registered with ChiCTR2100041595.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"7088004"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2023-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9851777/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9133733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Potential Objective Sign of Central Sensitization: Referred Pain Elicited by Manual Gluteus Minimus Muscle Exploration is Coincident with Pathological Autonomic Response Provoked by Noxious Stimulation.","authors":"Elzbieta Skorupska,&nbsp;Tomasz Dybek,&nbsp;Michał Rychlik,&nbsp;Marta Jokiel,&nbsp;Paweł Dobrakowski,&nbsp;Anna Szczerba,&nbsp;Daria Wotzka,&nbsp;Anna Jankowska","doi":"10.1155/2023/4030622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4030622","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Referred pain/sensation provoked by trigger points suits the nociplastic pain criteria. There is a debate over whether trigger points are related to a peripheral phenomenon or central sensitization (CS) processes. Referred pain is considered a possible sign of CS, which occurs probably mainly due to the abnormal activity of the immune and autonomic nervous systems. To confirm abnormal autonomic reactivity within the referred pain zone of active trigger points, a new diagnostic tool, the Skorupska Protocol® (the SP test®), was applied. The test uses noxious stimulation (10 minutes of dry needling under infrared camera control) as a diagnostic tool to confirm abnormal autonomic nervous system activity. A response to the SP test® of healthy subjects with referred pain sensations provoked by latent trigger points (LTrPs) stimulation was not explored before. The study aims at examining if LTrPs can develop an autonomic response. <i>Methods</i>. Two groups of healthy subjects, (i) gluteus minimus LTrPs with referred pain (<i>n</i> = 20) and (ii) control (<i>n</i> = 27), were examined using the SP test®. <i>Results</i>. Abnormal autonomic activity within the referred pain zone was confirmed for all analyzed LTrPs subjects. 70% of control subjects had no feature of vasodilatation and others presented minor vasomotor fluctuations. The size of vasomotor reactivity within the referred pain zone was LTrPs 11.1 + 10.96% vs. control 0.8 + 0.6% (<i>p</i> < 0.05). <i>Conclusions</i>. Noxious stimulation of latent TrPs induces abnormal autonomic nervous system activity within the referred pain zone. The observed phenomenon supports the concept of central nervous system involvement in the referred pain patomechanizm.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"4030622"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9911239/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10773543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation Analysis between Residual Pain after Vertebral Augmentation and the Diffusion Distribution of Bone Cement: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Kang Yao,&nbsp;Yungang Chen,&nbsp;Xiaoying Wang,&nbsp;Qianqian Yao,&nbsp;Kaiying Cui,&nbsp;Wenming Chen,&nbsp;Pengfei Hou,&nbsp;Ning Yu,&nbsp;Zhenyue Zhang,&nbsp;Wenxin Gao,&nbsp;Haipeng Xue,&nbsp;Yanke Hao","doi":"10.1155/2023/1157611","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1157611","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To explore the influence and potential factors of the bone cement dispersion state on residual pain after vertebral augmentation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The cases included in this retrospective cohort study were patients treated with vertebral augmentation (VA) for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) between July 2018 and June 2021. According to the type of cement diffusion distribution, the patients were divided into a sufficient diffusion group (Group A) and an insufficient diffusion group (Group B). The differences in the baseline data, visual analog scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index score (ODI), injured vertebral height (IVH), and local kyphosis angle (LKA) between the two groups were analyzed. Assessments were performed preoperatively on the 2nd day postoperation and at the last follow-up. The imaging data of injured vertebrae were accurately reconstructed by a GE AW4.7 workstation, and the differences in the vertebral body volume, bone cement volume, and bone cement volume ratio were compared between the groups.</p><p><strong>Result: </strong>After screening, 36 patients were included. (1) The postoperative VAS and ODI scores of the two groups were significantly improved compared with the preoperative scores. (2) On the 2nd day postoperation and the last follow-up, the VAS and ODI scores of Group A were significantly different from those of Group B, and Group A outperformed Group B. (3) The IVH and LKA of the two groups were improved after the operation, and no significant difference was found between the groups. (4) Significant differences were found in the bone cement volume and bone cement volume ratio between the groups, and Group A was larger than Group B.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Sufficient bone cement diffusion can reduce residual pain after vertebral augmentation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"1157611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9833933/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9320997","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can Baseline Characteristics Predict Successful Outcomes after Individual, Physiotherapist-Led Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?","authors":"Elisabeth Bondesson,&nbsp;Anna Jöud,&nbsp;Marcelo Rivano Fischer,&nbsp;Anna Trulsson Schouenborg","doi":"10.1155/2023/5182996","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5182996","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>No strong and consistent variables to predict outcome after pain rehabilitation have been reported in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. The aim of the present study was to clarify if baseline variables could predict successful outcome after a unique, individualized, physiotherapist-led rehabilitation of nine sessions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In 274 individuals with severe chronic musculoskeletal pain, the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for potentially predictive baseline variables on successful outcomes of pain management, overall health, and pain rating.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Statistically significant results show that patients rating moderate or severe baseline pain were in both cases 14% less likely to improve pain management compared to patients rating mild baseline pain (RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.77-0.97, RR = 0.86; 95% CI 0.74-1.00). Patients with the shortest pain duration were 1.61 times more likely to improve overall health (RR = 1.61; 95% CI 1.13-2.29) compared to patients reporting the longest pain duration (>5 years). Patients reporting anxiety/depression or severe pain were in both cases 1.48 times more likely to improve overall health compared to better baseline presentations (RR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.16-1.88, RR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.03-2.15). Patients with regional/generalized pain were 36% less likely to rate pain reduction (RR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.41-1.00) compared to patients rating localized baseline pain. Of 17 potentially predictive baseline variables, four reached statistical significance for at least one of the three outcomes; although none of them for all three outcomes.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Of 17 potentially predictive baseline variables, mild pain ratings, short pain duration, and localized baseline pain were statistically significantly associated with improvements after individual, physiotherapist-led rehabilitation for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This suggests that this type of rehabilitation probably should be offered early in the pain process. Reporting anxiety/depression or severe pain at the baseline did not hinder the improvements of overall health.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"5182996"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10289872/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10073744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Survey of Neck Pain among Dentists of the Lebanese Community.","authors":"Abed AlRaouf Kawtharani,&nbsp;Ali Msheik,&nbsp;Fadi Salman,&nbsp;Ali Haj Younes,&nbsp;Ammar Chemeisani","doi":"10.1155/2023/8528028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8528028","url":null,"abstract":"Results The majority of participants were between the ages of 25 and 35, and the gender distribution of the demographic distribution was comparable. The prevalence of pain was 86.8% (97/342 dentists). NDI analysis showed that 65.7% had mild disability, 12.8% have a moderate disability, and 1% had severe disability. Bivariate analysis showed that pain was affected by age (p=0.013), orthodontist practices (p=0.031), regular exercise (p < 0.001), using vibrating instruments (p < 0.001), cervical flexion for better vision while working (p < 0.001), knowledge, and experience about ergonomic posture (p < 0.005). Multivariate analysis showed four predictors for pain: age (p=0.017), performing stretching exercises after finishing clinical practice (p=0.022), orthodontist specialty (p=0.029), and performing cervical flexion for better vision while working (p=0.004). Conclusion This study showed that through the application of some strategies such as stretching, exercising, and being careful in using vibrating instruments, the dentist may be able to relieve the pain.","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"8528028"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10063358/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9352953","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Erratum to \"miR-223 Inhibits the Polarization and Recruitment of Macrophages via NLRP3/IL-1<i>β</i> Pathway to Meliorate Neuropathic Pain\".","authors":"Junsong Zhu,&nbsp;Jinmei Yang,&nbsp;Jianguo Xu","doi":"10.1155/2023/9756947","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9756947","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/6674028.].</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"9756947"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10019977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9513996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of Spinal Cord Stimulation for Failed Back Surgery Syndrome in Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Naoki Higashiyama,&nbsp;Shinya Tamura,&nbsp;Taku Sugawara","doi":"10.1155/2023/2136562","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2136562","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) refers to a condition where symptoms such as low back pain, leg pain, and numbness persist or recur after lumbar surgery; it has been reported to occur in 10%-40% of patients who have undergone lumbar surgery. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been reported useful for low back and leg pain due to FBSS. In this study, we studied the efficacy and safety of SCS for FBSS in older adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Among FBSS patients who underwent an SCS trial between November 2017 and December 2020, those with at least 50% pain reduction during the trial phase who requested spinal cord stimulator implantation underwent implantation of a stimulator under local anesthesia. The patients were divided into two groups: patients aged <75 years (<75-year-old group) and patients aged ≥75 years (≥75-year-old group). The male/female ratio, symptom duration, operative duration, visual analog scale (VAS) scores before and after one year of surgery, responder rate (RR), complications one year after surgery, and stimulator removal rate were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>There were 27 cases in the <75-year-old group and 46 in the ≥75-year-old group, with no significant differences in male/female ratio, duration of pain, or operative time between the two groups. VAS scores for low back pain, leg pain, and overall pain one year after surgery were improved significantly from respective preoperative scores in both groups (<i>P</i> < 0.001). There were no significant differences in low back pain VAS, leg pain VAS, overall pain VAS, RR, complications one year after surgery, or stimulator removal rate between the two groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>SCS reduced pain effectively in both <75-year-old and ≥75-year-old groups with no differences in complications. Therefore, spinal cord stimulator implantation was considered a viable option for FBSS treatment in older adults because it can be performed under local anesthesia and is associated with a low incidence of complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"2136562"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10188261/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9568201","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effect of Spinal Muscle Fatigue and Psychosocial Factors on Pressure-Pain Threshold in Healthy Adults.","authors":"Susan Mais,&nbsp;Jo Armour Smith","doi":"10.1155/2023/7336477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7336477","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Pain sensitivity decreases following isometric exercise. It is not clear whether this exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) occurs to the same extent in men and women. It is also unclear if the effect is systemic or local to the exercised musculature. The aim of our study was to investigate whether fatiguing isometric exercise of the spinal and hip extensors would result in increased pressure pain threshold (PPT) at sites local to and remote from the exercised muscles in healthy men and women and whether there is a relationship between central sensitization, psychosocial factors, and PPT.</p><p><strong>Subjects: </strong>35 healthy adults (age 27.1 ± 4.5 years, 22 women).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a within-subjects cohort study. Participants completed questionnaires quantifying central sensitization, pain catastrophizing, sleepiness/insomnia, anxiety, and depression. PPT was assessed at the lumbar and thoracic paraspinals, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, wrist, and third digit before and immediately after participants performed the Biering-Sorensen test to failure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PPT increased postexercise in the thoracic paraspinals, hamstrings, and gastrocnemius in men and women and in the lumbar paraspinals in men only but did not change at the wrist and digit sites. A lower average PPT at baseline was associated with a higher central sensitization scores. A greater increase in average PPT postfatigue was significantly associated with higher average PPT at baseline.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Exercise-induced hypoalgesia occurs at sites overlying the muscles involved in fatiguing exercise, but not at remote sites, and is more evident in males than females. The magnitude of EIH depends upon baseline PPT. Even in healthy individuals, greater central sensitization is associated with lower baseline PPT.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"7336477"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9891829/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10830827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of <i>COMT</i> Val158Met Polymorphism with Fibromyalgia in Khartoum State, Sudan.","authors":"Safaa Mamoun Abdelmageid,&nbsp;Faisal Mousa Alamir,&nbsp;Hassan Yousif Abdelrahman,&nbsp;Hind Mohamed Abushama","doi":"10.1155/2023/7313578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/7313578","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and cognitive problems. Neurotransmitters, mainly catecholamines, appear to be involved in regulating the etiology of FM. Catechol-O-methyltransferase (<i>COMT</i>) is involved in catabolizing catecholamines such as norepinephrine. The most common variant studied in the <i>COMT</i> gene is the valine (Val) to methionine (Met) substitution at codon 158. This is the first study in Sudan addressing FM cases and genetic susceptibility to the disease. We aimed in this study to investigate the frequency of <i>COMT</i> Val 158 Met polymorphism among patients with FM, rheumatoid arthritis, and in healthy individuals. Genomic DNA from forty female volunteers was analyzed: twenty were from primary and secondary FM patients, ten were from rheumatoid arthritis patients, and ten were from healthy control. FM patients' age was ranging from 25 years to 55 with a mean of 41.14 ± 8.90. The mean age of the rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy individuals was 31.3 ± 7.5 and 38.6 ± 11.2, respectively. Samples were genotyped for <i>COMT</i> single nucleotide polymorphism rs4680 (Val158Met), using the amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR). Genotyping data have been analyzed using the Chi-square and Fisher exact test. The most common genotype among the study participants was the heterozygous Val/Met found in all participants. It was the only genotype found in the healthy participants. The genotype Met/Met was found only in FM patients. The genotype Val/Val was found only in rheumatoid patients. Analyses have shown no association between the Met/Met genotype and FM, and this could be due to a small sample size. In a larger sample size, a significant association could be found as this genotype was shown only by FM patients. Moreover, the Val/Val genotype, which is shown only among rheumatoid patients, might protect them from developing FM symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":19913,"journal":{"name":"Pain Research & Management","volume":"2023 ","pages":"7313578"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10257546/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10062319","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}