MULTIDISCIPLINARY PAIN ABSTRACTS: 21 . Neurology (21)

Abstract

The authors evaluated men with and without chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) to determine if there were differences between the two groups in their responses to noxious heat stimuli. Sixty‐six healthy men without CPPS and 36 men with a history of CPPS were recruited for the study. Thermal sensory tests were conducted with a small thermode programmed to deliver two series of four rapid bursts of noxious heat stimuli to the perineum and the anterior thigh. The subjects reported sensation on a computerized visual analog scale (COVAS) with a manual sliding lever. The average peak COVAS values and time to peak values from thigh and perineum of each series of thermal bursts were compared between CPPS and controls. The mean pain score on questionnaires was 9.7 (4 or greater indicating significant pain). The mean urinary score was 4.7 (range 0 to 10) and the mean quality of life impact score was 7.3 (range 3 to 13). There was no difference between groups in the peak COVAS value on the thigh. The authors concluded that men with CPPS have altered heat sensation/pain sensitization in the perineum compared to controls. This finding is another that supports the resemblance of CPPS to other chronic pain syndromes and may help explain why CPPS is often refractory to treatment. Further investigations into male CPPS should focus on the mechanisms inducing and maintaining pain in an effort to treat this condition effectively.