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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Facial sensibility of patients with trigeminal neuralgias

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Author(s):
Siviero, Mariana ; Alvarez, Fabio Kurogi ; Okada, Massako [1] ; Teixeira, Manoel Jacobsen ; Tesseroli de Siqueira, Jose Tadeu [2] ; Dowgan Tesseroli de Siqueira, Silvia Regina [3]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Interdisciplinary Pain Ctr, Dept Neurol, Sch Med, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Orofacial Pain Team, Sch Med, Dent Div, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Arts Sci & Humanities, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 3
Document type: Journal article
Source: CLINICAL NEUROLOGY AND NEUROSURGERY; v. 113, n. 4, p. 268-271, MAY 2011.
Web of Science Citations: 8
Abstract

Objectives: Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (ITN) is an excruciating shock-like paroxysmal pain restricted to the trigeminal area of innervation, with discrete loss of sensibility (thermal, tactile and painful). Trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a neuropathic pain at the trigeminal territory that persists after Herpes zoster infection, which also is associated to sensorial compromise. The objective of this study was to evaluate the somesthetic facial sensibility (pain, thermal and tactile) and to compare the findings between PHN and ITN. Methods: 18 patients with PHN and 26 patients with ITN were diagnosed by the IASP criteria. They were evaluated with a systematic approach, which included mechanical, thermal (cold and warm) and painful stimuli. Results: We found statistical significance at the ophthalmic branch of PHN in pain (p=0.001), tactile (p=0.002), cold (p=0.016) and warm (p=0.013); in ITN, the maxillary branch had higher threshold with pinpricks (p=0.016) and the mandibular branch had higher tactile threshold. Conclusions: The trigeminal area affected by the disease had the higher sensorial losses (ophthalmic branch in PHN and maxillary/mandibular branches in ITN). PHN patients had losses in large and small fibers; therefore, ITN patients had the losses mostly in large fibers, which support different peripheral neural mechanisms for these neuropathic diseases. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)