Possible Mechanisms of Pain Perception in Patients with Episodic Tension-Type Headache. A New Experimental Model of Myofascial Pain

Abstract

A new experimental human model of myofascial pain using intramuscular infusion of a combination of bradykinin, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), histamine, and prostaglandin E2 was applied to patients with episodic tension-type headache (ETTH) in order to examine pain perception. Fifteen patients with ETTH and 15 healthy controls completed the randomized, balanced, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Pain intensity, punctate hyperalgesia and allodynia, and pain quality were recorded. The combination induced a moderate and prolonged pain in both patients (median 51 min) ( P = 0.001) and controls (median 22 min) ( P = 0.001). Patients reported more pain than controls both after the combination ( P = 0.045) and after placebo ( P < 0.001). The McGill pain score [PRI(R)] was significantly higher in patients ( P = 0.002) and in controls ( P = 0.001), whereas pain quality and hyperalgesia were similar after the combination compared with placebo in the two groups. Due to side-effects nine subjects did not complete the study. The increased pain response, but similar qualitative pain perception, in ETTH patients may be explained by sensitization of peripheral nociceptors even though central mechanisms may also be involved.