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Review
. 2022 Sep 7:15:2673-2682.
doi: 10.2147/JPR.S329280. eCollection 2022.

Central Sensitization in Migraine: A Narrative Review

Keisuke Suzuki  1 , Shiho Suzuki  1 , Tomohiko Shiina  1 , Saro Kobayashi  1 , Koichi Hirata  1
Affiliations
Review

Central Sensitization in Migraine: A Narrative Review

Keisuke Suzuki et al. J Pain Res. .

Abstract

Central sensitization (CS) is an increase in the responsiveness of nociceptive neurons in the central nervous system to their normal afferent input. As a result, even minor irritation can induce severe pain, leading to the chronicity and severity of various diseases, such as neurological disorders. CS is associated with migraine, which is a major neurological disorder that inflicts a high disability in daily life. Specifically, CS is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of cutaneous allodynia as well as chronification of migraine. In this article, we reviewed the association between CS and migraine, including pathophysiological aspects and evidence from clinical studies. We suggest that appropriate screening and management of CS in migraine could further improve the quality of life of migraine patients.

Keywords: central sensitization; cutaneous allodynia; migraine; restless legs syndrome.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

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