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Updated: Nov 19, 2025

Demonstration of Cutaneous Allodynia in Association with Chronic Pelvic Pain
Published on: June 23, 2009
Prevalence and characteristics of cutaneous allodynia in probable migraine
Seung Min Han1, Kyung Min Kim2, Soo-Jin Cho3
1Department of Neurology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03772, Republic of Korea.
Cutaneous allodynia (CA) is a pain in response to non-nociceptive stimulation and a marker of central sensitisation. Probable migraine (PM) is a migraine subtype that fulfils all but one criterion of migraine. Headache intensity and the disability of individuals with PM are similar or lower than individuals with migraine. This study compared CA prevalence and characteristics of PM and migraine using a nationally representative sample in Korea. The Allodynia Symptom Checklist-12 (ASC-12) was used to assess CA (ASC-12 score ≥ 3). PM and migraine prevalence were 11.6% and 5.0%, respectively. CA prevalence did not significantly differ between PM and migraine (14.5% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.701). Participants with PM with CA reported a higher monthly headache frequency (3.3 ± 4.3 vs. 1.8 ± 3.6, p = 0.044), more severe headache intensity (Visuals Analogue Scale, 6.0 [4.0-7.0] vs. 5.0 [3.0-6.0], p = 0.002), and higher impact of headache (Headache Impact Test-6, 56.3 ± 7.2 vs. 48.3 ± 8.0, p < 0.001) than those without CA. Multiple regression analyses revealed that headache frequency and intensity, anxiety, and depression were significant factors for CA in participants with PM. In conclusion, CA prevalence among participants with PM and migraine were comparable. Anxiety, depression, and headache frequency and intensity were significant factors for CA in participants with PM.
Cutaneous allodynia (CA) is a pain in response to non-nociceptive stimulation and a marker of central sensitisation. Probable migraine (PM) is a migraine subtype that fulfils all but one criterion of migraine. Headache intensity and the disability of individuals with PM are similar or lower than individuals with migraine. This study compared CA prevalence and characteristics of PM and migraine using a nationally representative sample in Korea. The Allodynia Symptom Checklist-12 (ASC-12) was used to assess CA (ASC-12 score ≥ 3). PM and migraine prevalence were 11.6% and 5.0%, respectively. CA prevalence did not significantly differ between PM and migraine (14.5% vs. 16.0%, p = 0.701). Participants with PM with CA reported a higher monthly headache frequency (3.3 ± 4.3 vs. 1.8 ± 3.6, p = 0.044), more severe headache intensity (Visuals Analogue Scale, 6.0 [4.0-7.0] vs. 5.0 [3.0-6.0], p = 0.002), and higher impact of headache (Headache Impact Test-6, 56.3 ± 7.2 vs. 48.3 ± 8.0, p < 0.001) than those without CA. Multiple regression analyses revealed that headache frequency and intensity, anxiety, and depression were significant factors for CA in participants with PM. In conclusion, CA prevalence among participants with PM and migraine were comparable. Anxiety, depression, and headache frequency and intensity were significant factors for CA in participants with PM.
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