Abstract
Despite advancements in pain medicine, management of chronic abdominal visceral discomfort remains a substantial concern for both patients and physicians. Standard pharmacological treatment fails to produce meaningful therapeutic outcomes. As a result, researchers are working on identifying additional modulable targets. Among others, specific receptors (serotonin, α2 adrenergic, cholecystokinin), as well as transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 channel, calcitonin gene-related peptide, mitogen-activated protein kinase and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been proposed as specific targets. Identification of genetic polymorphisms also plays a significant role. In this narrative review, which follows the SANRA criteria, we aimed to present the latest developments of the past five years, in visceral analgesia, without focusing on established pain management modalities. Cannabinoid receptor 2 agonists, high-dose inhaled salbutamol, μ-opioid receptors agonist in acidified microenvironment, 5-HT 4 receptor-antagonist, pomegranate mesocarp, guanylate cyclase-C agonists, assembled system of molecules of vegetal origin, monoclonal antibodies against calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors, palmitoylethanolamide, as well as polydatin micro-RNA based treatments have a possible role in the management of abdominal visceral pain. However, more research is needed because the majority of the findings are based on animal models of visceral pain or preliminary human investigations.