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Lower Prevalence of Chronic Pain in Manifest Huntington's Disease: A Pilot Observational Study
Marianna Delussi1, Vittorio Sciruicchio2, Paolo Taurisano1
1AOU Policlinico, Applied Neurophysiology and Pain Unit, Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs Department, Aldo Moro University, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Insights
Chronic pain is less common in Huntington
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Huntington's Disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
- Chronic pain is often overlooked in HD symptom management.
- No prior studies have systematically evaluated chronic pain in HD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain in individuals with Huntington's Disease.
- To compare pain experiences between HD gene carriers and non-carriers.
Main Methods:
- An observational, cross-sectional study design.
- Inclusion of 134 HD gene carriers and 74 non-carriers.
- Utilized pain interviews, neurological, cognitive, and behavioral assessments.
Main Results:
- A significant prevalence of 'no pain' was observed in HD subjects.
- Pain frequency tended to decrease with HD progression.
- No significant differences in analgesic use, pain type, or location were found between groups.
Conclusions:
- Manifest HD may have a lower prevalence of chronic pain than previously assumed.
- Pain intensity and prevalence appear linked to neurodegeneration, not cognitive or emotional factors.
- Further research is needed to understand pain mechanisms in Huntington's Disease.
Abstract:
Pain is a minor problem compared with other Huntington Disease (HD) symptoms. Nevertheless, in HD it is poorly recognized and underestimated. So far, no study evaluated the presence of chronic pain in HD. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the presence and features of chronic pain in a cohort of HD gene carriers. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in a cohort of HD gene carriers compared to not gene carriers (n.134 HD subjects, n.74 not gene mutation carriers). A specific pain interview, alongside a neurological, cognitive and behavioural examination, was performed in order to classify the type of pain, subjective intensity. A significant prevalence of "no Pain" in HD was found, which tended to increase with HD progression and a reduced frequency of pain in the last 3 months. A clear difference was found between manifest and premanifest HD in terms of intensity of pain, which did not change significantly with HD progression; however, a tendency emerges to a progressive reduction. No significant group difference was present in analgesic use, type and the site of pain. These findings could support a lower prevalence of chronic pain in manifest HD. Prevalence and intensity of chronic pain seem directly influenced by the process of neurodegeneration rather than by an incorrect cognitive and emotional functioning.
