Somatosensory assessments in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a cross-sectional study examining pain processing pathways and the role of multiple patient factors

Background Pain affects the majority of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), where pain experiences may be influenced by multiple patient factors and changes within central pain processing pathways, termed central sensitization. The current study aimed to investigate pain processing pathways in patients with IBD through somatosensory testing and associations with multiple patient factors. Methods A cross-sectional study of adults with IBD. Assessments included: somatosensory tests [i.e. pressure pain thresholds (PPT), temporal summation (TS), conditioned pain modulation (CPM)], and patient factors (i.e. demographics, comorbidity, sleep quality, psychological, pain severity and interference, and IBD features). Multiple regression analyses explored associations between somatosensory tests and multiple patient factors. Results Decreased CPM in participants (N = 51) was associated with worse abdominal pain severity and use of biologic therapies (R2 = 0.30, F(5,44) = 5.18, P = 0.001). Increased TS was associated with biologic use (R2 = 0.11, F(1,49) = 6.13, P = 0.017). Decreased PPT at the low back (R2 = 0.29, F(2,48) = 11.21, P
Source: European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Original Articles: Gastroenterology Source Type: research