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Low heat pain thresholds in migraineurs between attacks
Todd J Schwedt1, Leslie Zuniga2, Catherine D Chong2
1Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ, USA Schwedt.todd@mayo.edu.
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|September 24, 2014
Summary
Migraineurs exhibit heightened pain sensitivity between attacks, with lower heat pain thresholds compared to controls. This hypersensitivity may contribute to the predisposition for subsequent migraine episodes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- Migraine is characterized by sensory hypersensitivities between attacks.
- Understanding pain perception in migraineurs is crucial for developing effective management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pain hypersensitivity in migraineurs during pain-free intervals.
- To explore the relationship between pain thresholds and migraine characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Assessed cutaneous heat pain thresholds in 112 migraineurs and 75 healthy controls.
- Compared pain thresholds between groups and analyzed correlations with headache frequency, allodynia, and time to next headache.
Main Results:
- Migraineurs demonstrated significantly lower heat pain thresholds at both the head and arm compared to controls.
- No significant correlation was found between pain thresholds and headache frequency or allodynia severity.
- A positive correlation existed between higher pain thresholds and a longer time interval until the next migraine attack.
Conclusions:
- Migraineurs experience reduced heat pain thresholds even between attacks.
- Lowered pain thresholds may play a role in the pathophysiology of migraine attacks.
- The findings suggest a potential link between pain sensitivity and migraine predisposition.
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