Mieke van Aken1, Joukje Oosterman2, Tineke van Rijn2, Kelly Woudsma2, Magdalena Ferdek3, Gé Ruigt4, Tamas Kozicz5, Didi Braat6, Ard Peeters5, Annemiek Nap7. 1. Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Rijnstate, Arnhem, the Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: mvanaken@rijnstate.nl. 2. Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. 3. Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Psychology Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. 4. Clinical Consultancy for Neuroscience Drug Development, Oss, the Netherlands. 5. Department of Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. 6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. 7. Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Rijnstate, Arnhem, the Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in tactile, pain thresholds and pain tolerance thresholds in patients with endometriosis using a multimodality approach. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Multidisciplinary referral center. PATIENT(S): Women with proven endometriosis (N = 35) and healthy controls (N = 38). INTERVENTION(S): Pain processing was tested using quantitative sensory testing (QST) to investigate sensation, pain, and pain tolerance thresholds for thermal, electrical, and pressure stimuli. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Differences in QST measures in patients with endometriosis and in healthy controls on the endometriosis site and control sites, and the association between QST outcomes and patient characteristics. RESULT(S): We observed a significantly decreased pain tolerance in patients with endometriosis, independent of clinical pain intensity or revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine stage, compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION(S): Increasing knowledge concerning mechanisms underlying the pain of women with endometriosis creates opportunities to develop new treatment options. More attention should be paid not only to treat endometriosis in a surgical or pharmacologic way, but also to desensitize by pain education or cognitive therapy.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate alterations in tactile, pain thresholds and pain tolerance thresholds in patients with endometriosis using a multimodality approach. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Multidisciplinary referral center. PATIENT(S): Women with proven endometriosis (N = 35) and healthy controls (N = 38). INTERVENTION(S): Pain processing was tested using quantitative sensory testing (QST) to investigate sensation, pain, and pain tolerance thresholds for thermal, electrical, and pressure stimuli. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Differences in QST measures in patients with endometriosis and in healthy controls on the endometriosis site and control sites, and the association between QST outcomes and patient characteristics. RESULT(S): We observed a significantly decreased pain tolerance in patients with endometriosis, independent of clinical pain intensity or revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine stage, compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION(S): Increasing knowledge concerning mechanisms underlying the pain of women with endometriosis creates opportunities to develop new treatment options. More attention should be paid not only to treat endometriosis in a surgical or pharmacologic way, but also to desensitize by pain education or cognitive therapy.
Authors: Amy L Shafrir; Elena Martel; Stacey A Missmer; Daniel J Clauw; Steven E Harte; Sawsan As-Sanie; Christine B Sieberg Journal: Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol Date: 2021-07-22 Impact factor: 2.831