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Pain Sensitivity and Thermal Detection Thresholds in Young Adults Born Preterm With Very Low Birth Weight or Small

Johanne Marie Iversen1, Martin Uglem2, Marit Sæbø Indredavik3

  • 1Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU-Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

The Journal of Pain
|March 26, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Young adults born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW) or small for gestational age (SGA) showed normal thermal and pain sensitivity compared to controls. Sex differences in pain perception were consistent across groups.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pain Research

Background:

  • Preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) are associated with potential long-term neurodevelopmental effects.
  • Previous studies suggested altered sensory processing in preterm-born children and adolescents.
  • Long-term somatosensory function in young adulthood following preterm birth or SGA status remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively investigate somatosensory function in young adults born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW) or SGA at term.
  • To compare thermal detection, thermal pain, pressure pain thresholds, and heat pain responses between VLBW, SGA, and control groups.
  • To examine the prevalence of chronic pain and potential sex-based differences in sensory perception.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, long-term follow-up study involving quantitative sensory testing (QST) at age 28.
  • Participants included 51 VLBW, 66 term SGA, and 86 term-born controls.
  • QST assessed thermal detection/pain thresholds, pressure pain thresholds, and response to prolonged heat; chronic pain was self-reported.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in thermal or pain thresholds were found between VLBW, SGA, and control groups, except for increased cool sensitivity in the SGA group.
  • Male participants exhibited higher pain thresholds, with no significant group-by-sex interactions.
  • Neonatal mechanical ventilation in the VLBW group was linked to reduced cool sensitivity and lower pressure pain thresholds.

Conclusions:

  • Young adults born with low birth weight (VLBW or SGA) demonstrate comparable thermal and pain sensitivity to term-born controls at age 28.
  • Observed sex differences in pain perception were consistent across all birth weight groups.
  • Findings suggest that somatosensory function is largely normalized by young adulthood, contrasting with earlier developmental findings.

Keywords:
Preterm birthchronic painpain sensitivityquantitative sensory testingsmall for gestational age

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