Pain in patients with chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy

Abstract

Background/aims: Pain in patients with chronic idiopathic axonal polyneuropathy (CIAP) has never been studied in detail. The aim of the study was to investigate the pain experienced by patients with CIAP, and to determine whether pain is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Methods: The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and the RAND-36 were used in a cross-sectional study.

Results: Sixty-three of 91 patients with CIAP reported experiencing pain, describing it as nagging (56%) and annoying (52%). Of these patients, 27 were classified in a subgroup with neuropathic pain (median VAS = 33 mm), 25 in a subgroup with non-neuropathic pain (median VAS = 34 mm), and 11 in a mixed-pain subgroup (median VAS = 25 mm). Non-neuropathic pain was as common and as painful as neuropathic pain. Pain was strongly associated with the physical functioning domain of the RAND-36 in patients in the mixed pain subgroup (r = -0.71, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Neuropathic and non-neuropathic pain syndromes should be distinguished in patients with CIAP who experience pain, to enable appropriate tailoring of treatment.