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Changes in pain profile of patients with haemophilia during 1‐year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Krüger Steffen,
Herzig Marie,
Hilberg Thomas
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
haemophilia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.213
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1365-2516
pISSN - 1351-8216
DOI - 10.1111/hae.14380
Subject(s) - medicine , haemophilia , ankle , quantitative sensory testing , confidence interval , physical therapy , surgery , sensory system , psychology , cognitive psychology
Patients with haemophilia (PwH) may experience increased sensitivity to pain. Based on the assessment of the somatosensory system, a recent study showed a specific pain profile in PwH when compared to controls by using Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST). Aim This study aimed to evaluate the pain profile of affected joints (knee or ankle joints) and a non‐affected site (dominant hand) in adult PwH over a 1‐year period. Methods Twenty‐four PwH (severe haemophilia A = 19, B = 3; moderate haemophilia A = 1, B = 1; age: 52±8 years) and 21 healthy controls (age: 52±12 years) were examined by QST. Both knee or ankle joints and the hand as reference were examined twice with an interval of 1 year in order to assess several detection (DT) and pain thresholds (PT). Results Statistically significant altered mechanical ( P < .001) and pressure ( P < .05) PT were found at affected joints and at a non‐affected site in PwH when compared to controls. Mechanical DT showed a significant increase at all assessed sites (e.g., at ankle joints PwH vs. controls at baseline/follow up in mN: 13.9±9.8 vs. 12.0±8.2/19.4±12.4 vs. 13.7±11.1; P < .01) in both cohorts. Nevertheless, changes in most parameters within 1 year occurred similarly in both groups. Conclusion The statistically significant different QST profile between PwH and controls does not seem to deteriorate further over the course of the year. Thus, under prophylactic treatment, the existing difference in the pain profile between PwH and controls at baseline does not appear to be a progressive process within 1 year.