TY - JOUR
T1 - Characteristics and potential biomarkers of adult sickle cell patients with chronic pain
AU - Albo, Camila
AU - Kumar, Sanjiv
AU - Pope, Michael
AU - Kidwell, Kyle Michael
AU - Xu, Hongyan
AU - Bowman, Latanya
AU - Wells, Leigh
AU - Barrett, Nadine
AU - Fields, Sabine
AU - Bora, Pritam
AU - Patel, Niren
AU - Kutlar, Abdullah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
PY - 2020/10/1
Y1 - 2020/10/1
N2 - Objectives: In this study, we investigated the evolution of chronic pain in sickle cell patients (SCD) as an age-dependent phenomenon and studied the frequency of vaso-occlusive episode frequency, opioid use, quantitative sensory testing (QST), and biomarkers of chronic pain (CP). Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional study of the evolution of CP in SCD. A total of 72 subjects (age 15-66) were enrolled. VOE frequency, presence of CP hydroxyurea (HU) therapy, opioid use, and laboratory parameters were collected. QST was performed, and plasma tryptase, substance P, and NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) levels were assayed. Results: There was an age-dependent increase in frequency of CP, VOEs, opioid use, and Von Frey monofilament values. CP patients had significantly higher opioid use (daily morphine equivalents) (52.8 mg vs 6.94 mg, P =.009), suggesting a correlation between opioid use and hyperalgesia. NGF levels were also significantly higher (P =.051). Our results confirm previous observations of an age-dependent increase in the proportion of patients with CP and support the contributing role of mast cell activation and neurogenic inflammation. Conclusions: This is the first study of NGF as a possible biomarker of CP in SCD. If confirmed, this could provide a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for CP in SCD.
AB - Objectives: In this study, we investigated the evolution of chronic pain in sickle cell patients (SCD) as an age-dependent phenomenon and studied the frequency of vaso-occlusive episode frequency, opioid use, quantitative sensory testing (QST), and biomarkers of chronic pain (CP). Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional study of the evolution of CP in SCD. A total of 72 subjects (age 15-66) were enrolled. VOE frequency, presence of CP hydroxyurea (HU) therapy, opioid use, and laboratory parameters were collected. QST was performed, and plasma tryptase, substance P, and NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) levels were assayed. Results: There was an age-dependent increase in frequency of CP, VOEs, opioid use, and Von Frey monofilament values. CP patients had significantly higher opioid use (daily morphine equivalents) (52.8 mg vs 6.94 mg, P =.009), suggesting a correlation between opioid use and hyperalgesia. NGF levels were also significantly higher (P =.051). Our results confirm previous observations of an age-dependent increase in the proportion of patients with CP and support the contributing role of mast cell activation and neurogenic inflammation. Conclusions: This is the first study of NGF as a possible biomarker of CP in SCD. If confirmed, this could provide a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for CP in SCD.
KW - chronic pain
KW - nerve growth factor
KW - opioid
KW - sickle cell patients
KW - substance P
KW - tryptase
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U2 - 10.1111/ejh.13461
DO - 10.1111/ejh.13461
M3 - Article
C2 - 32497305
AN - SCOPUS:85087147754
SN - 0902-4441
VL - 105
SP - 419
EP - 425
JO - European Journal of Haematology
JF - European Journal of Haematology
IS - 4
ER -