Comparison of the blink reflex in classical and idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia

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Background: Previous findings indicate that the blink reflex is useful to distinguish between primary (classical/idiopathic) and secondary trigeminal neuralgia. No prior studies have investigated whether the blink reflex could identify differences in electrophysiological responses between classical and idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. With this in mind, we investigated the blink reflex in a cohort of classical and idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia patients. Methods: Participants were consecutively enrolled in the study. According to magnetic resonance imaging findings, the patients were subgrouped into either classical or idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. Assessors were blinded to the subgroup and pain side, and the blink reflex was examined to assess R1 and R2 latencies, as well as the area under the curve. Results: The study group constituted of 55 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia: 25 patients with classical trigeminal neuralgia and 30 patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. None of the blink reflex latencies (R1 and R2) or the area under the curve significantly differed between the two subgroups when adjusted for age and sex (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the blink reflex cannot be used to differentiate classical and idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia patients, and that both subgroups may share common pathophysiological mechanisms. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05328661.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCephalalgia
Volume43
Issue number7
Number of pages9
ISSN0333-1024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© International Headache Society 2023.

    Research areas

  • area under the curve, Blink reflex, R1/R2, trigeminal neuralgia

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