A rare case of congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis.

A 22-month-old girl of consanguineous parents was admitted with a high-grade fever. She was found to have insensitivity to painful stimuli and an absence of perspiration. She also displayed self-mutilating behaviour and was insensitive to cold/hot water on her body. On examination, there was loss of the tip of the tongue, missing teeth, generalised xerosis, and several ulcers at sites of minor trauma. She also had dysplastic nails and digital ulcers. Sensory examination demonstrated a complete lack of awareness of pain and temperature, vibration and fine touch were intact and lacrimation was normal. Differential diagnoses of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN), Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia and leprosy were considered. Results of routine blood investigations including serum uric acid were normal. On performing clinical exome sequencing, the diagnosis of congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) of autosomal recessive inheritance was confirmed. A novel, predicted to be pathogenic variant detected at exon 16 of the NTRK1 gene resulting in congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis is reported.Abbreviations: CIPA: congenital Insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis; HSAN: hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy; NGF: nerve growth factor; NTRK1: neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 gene; TrKA: tropomyosin receptor kinase A.

Guided growth in the correction of knee deformity in patients with congenital insensitivity to pain.

BACKGROUND: Orthopedic manifestations of congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP) can be devastating if left untreated. Knee deformities are common in patients with CIP and might lead to joint destruction and loss of walking ability. The purpose of the present study was to report the results and complications of guided growth procedures around the knee in patients with CIP. METHODS: In a retrospective review, all patients with CIP who underwent guided growth procedures around the knee from 2009 to 2017 at a tertiary referral hospital were evaluated. Patients with secondary insensitivity to pain (e.g., syringomyelia), as well as patients with incomplete records, were excluded. Demographic data, clinical findings, correction rate, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Ten knees in six patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median age was 10 (range, 5-12), with a mean follow-up of 31 months (range, 16-56). Distal femoral tension-band hemiepiphysiodesis was the most common procedure, followed by proximal tibial hemiepiphysiodesis. The mean correction rate was 0.28°/month for femoral deformity. Staples were removed prematurely in one patient due to extrusion. No cases of infection or skin dehiscence were observed. None of the patients needed a reconstructive knee procedure during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that guided growth procedures might have a role in the correction of knee deformities in patients with CIP. However, the correction rate is lower than that of typically developing children, patients should be closely followed to prevent complications, and stringent patient selection criteria should be followed to ensure success.

Conservative Treatment or Surgical Treatment: A Case Report and Literature Review of Multiple Fractures of the Lower Extremities in a Child with Insensitivity to Pain.

Congenital pain insensitivity is a rare genetic disease and its clinical manifestations are many. In orthopaedics, common complications of this disease include painless fracture and Charcot's arthropathy. We followed up a case of multiple fractures of the lower extremity in two years, during which time he came to the clinic for five painless fractures of the lower extremity in a total of six parts. A mutation was found on the NTKRI gene (chr1:156813923(hg19), NM_001007792.1: c.1221938C > T). We have developed a combination of surgery and conservative treatments for his condition, focusing on the mental state of the child and considering comprehensive treatment to be the best option for this type of patient. Occult fractures caused by pain insensitivity are often treated only as fractures, however their complications require routine examination and cleaning, suitable protective shoes, splint fixation, stretching, guided exercise planning, and early treatment of injuries. Due to the risk of fracture in the future, it is important that parents pay attention to the behavior and psychology of the child, such as not letting the child participate in exercise with a risk of injury, protective measures while playing, engaging in psychological counseling, and inducing interest in mental activity. These interventions will play a very important role in preventing the recurrence of fracture.

Analgesia congénita: reporte de dos casos / Congenital Analgesia: report of 2 cases

Resumen: La analgesia congénita es un padecimiento poco frecuente, en la literatura internacional se ha reportado en contados casos desde 1932, año en el que fue descrita por primera vez. Su causa ha sido motivo del desarrollo de múltiples teorías y numerosos estudios a través de los años. Actualmente diversos estudios y experimentos apuntan como origen la mutación en el gen SCN9A que codifica para los canales de sodio, los cuales tienen un papel muy importante en la transmisión de señales nociceptivas en el cuerpo humano. El motivo del presente estudio es dar a conocer dos casos que fueron valorados en el servicio de ortopedia pediátrica de la UMAE HTYOLV, pacientes en quienes la falta de sensibilidad al dolor ha producido lesiones importantes que fueron en su momento motivo de valoración por parte del hospital.

Abstract: Congenital analgesia is a rare condition, reporting in the international literature in rare cases since 1932, when it was first described. Its cause has been the subject of development of multiple theories and studies through the years. Currently various studies and experiments as its origin point mutation in the gene encoding SC9NA sodium channels, which have an important role in nociceptive transmission signals in the human body. The purpose of this study is to present two cases that were valued in the department of pediatric orthopedics at UMAE HTYOLV, patients whose insensitivity to pain has produced significant injuries that were once cause for valuation of the hospital.

NGF-dependent neurons and neurobiology of emotions and feelings: Lessons from congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis.

NGF is a well-studied neurotrophic factor, and TrkA is a receptor tyrosine kinase for NGF. The NGF-TrkA system supports the survival and maintenance of NGF-dependent neurons during development. Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder due to loss-of-function mutations in the NTRK1 gene encoding TrkA. Individuals with CIPA lack NGF-dependent neurons, including NGF-dependent primary afferents and sympathetic postganglionic neurons, in otherwise intact systems. Thus, the pathophysiology of CIPA can provide intriguing findings to elucidate the unique functions that NGF-dependent neurons serve in humans, which might be difficult to evaluate in animal studies. Preceding studies have shown that the NGF-TrkA system plays critical roles in pain, itching and inflammation. This review focuses on the clinical and neurobiological aspects of CIPA and explains that NGF-dependent neurons in the peripheral nervous system play pivotal roles in interoception and homeostasis of our body, as well as in the stress response. Furthermore, these NGF-dependent neurons are likely requisite for neurobiological processes of 'emotions and feelings' in our species.

Anesthesia Procedure for Congenital Insensitivity to Pain in a Child with Anhidrosis Syndrome: A Rare Case.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) syndrome is a neuropathy characterized by insensitivity to pain, impaired thermoregulation, anhidrosis, and mental retardation. A 9-year old boy with CIPA syndrome, underwent 2 operations for a calcaneal ulcer. During the first operation standard monitorization was performed. In the second operation, Bispectral Index (BIS) monitoring was added and temperature was monitored with an esophageal probe. In the first operation, in which anesthesia induction was applied with ketamine and midazolam, extremity movements with surgical stimuli were seen. Despite pain insensitivity, as extremity movements were seen with surgical stimuli, propofol was administered in the second operation. Throughout the operation, the BIS values varied from 19-58 and body temperature was measured as 36.1°C-36.9°C. In conclusion, despite the absence of pain sensitivity in CIPA syndrome cases, there is an absolute need for the administration of anesthesia in surgical procedures because of tactile hyperesthesia.

Novel 9 amino acid in-frame deletion in the NTRK1 tyrosine kinase domain in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhydrosis.

Schematic presentation of NTRK1 protein structure. Variants identified in this study are shown in red and previously reported variants associated with CIPA are shown in black (LRM, leucine rich motif; Ig, immunoglobulin-like domain; TM, transmembrane domain; TK, tyrosine kinase domain).

Anesthetic management of a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain: a case report.

Pain protects the body from damaging effects of harmful stimuli. Congenital insensitivity to pain is a rare inherited disorder characterized by diminished or absent sensitivity to pain, touch, and pressure that leads to frequent trauma and self-mutilation. The disorder is part of the hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) family, in which 5 types have been recognized. Research and case reports of anesthetic risks and analgesic needs of these patients is limited due to the infrequent nature of the disorder. Recommendations for anesthesia include modification of intraoperative opioid requirements, use of anesthetics to ensure cooperation and immobility, and intraoperative temperature monitoring. It is imperative for anesthesia providers to understand which type of HSAN their patient experiences and to conduct a thorough preoperative interview because a different interpretation of sensory loss may occur in each HSAN category. This article reports the case of a patient with HSAN type 2 who presented for knee arthroscopy.

Novel nonsense and frameshift NTRK1 gene mutations in Chinese patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA; MIM 256800) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by absence of reaction to noxious stimuli, recurrent episodes of fever, anhidrosis, and mental retardation. It is caused by mutations in the gene coding for neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (NTRK1; MIM# 191315). We screened two Chinese CIPA cases for mutations in the NTRK1 gene and examined their phenotype. Two novel mutations of the NTRK1 gene and two known mutations were identified. Including our two novel mutations, there are now 62 different NTRK1 gene mutations reported in patients with CIPA. We find that a combination of two null alleles usually leads to the severe phenotype, while the mild form of the CIPA disease is associated with at least one mild allele. Thirty-four among the 62 mutations (55%) are located within the tyrosine kinase domain of the NTRK1 protein. We concluded that the tyrosine kinase domain is a hot spot for mutations.

[Congenital insensitivity to pain: difficulty of management]. / L'insensibilité congénitale à la douleur : difficultés de prise en charge.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a very rare disorder, most often of genetic origin. CASE REPORT: The authors present the case of two siblings, 10 and 13 years old, both followed-up since the age of 2 for CIPA diagnosed after discovering insensitivity to pain during iterative falls, burns, and of severe oro-digital self-mutilating behavior. Sural nerve biopsy and an electromyogram confirmed the diagnosis. DISCUSSION: CIPA with anhidrosis is a very rare disease. It is characterized by unexplained fever episodes, anhidrosis, pain insensitivity, self-mutilating behavior, and sometimes mental retardation. Complications of this insensitivity (non-treated fractures, burns, and oro-digital mutilation) may be lethal. Treatment remains preventive. The patient must observe a very strict hygiene. Prevention for maxillofacial involvement consists in breaking the cycle of oral self-mutilation.

Absence of pain with hyperhidrosis: a new syndrome where vascular afferents may mediate cutaneous sensation.

Congenital absence of pain perception is a rare phenotype. Here we report two unrelated adult individuals who have a previously unreported neuropathy consisting of congenital absence of pain with hyperhidrosis (CAPH). Both subjects had normal intelligence and productive lives despite failure to experience pain due to broken bones, severe cold or burns. Functional assessments revealed that both are generally hypesthetic with thresholds greater than two standard deviations above normal for a several of modalities in addition to noxious stimuli. Sweating was 3 to 8-fold greater than normal. Sural nerve biopsy showed that all types of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers were severely reduced. Extensive multi-antibody immunofluorescence analyses were conducted on several skin biopsies from the hands and back of one CAPH subject and two normal subjects. The CAPH subject had all normal types of immunochemically and morphologically distinct sensory and autonomic innervation to the vasculature and sweat glands, including a previously unknown cholinergic arterial innervation. Virtually all other types of normal cutaneous C, Adelta and Abeta-fiber endings were absent. This subject had no mutations in the genes SCN9A, SCN10A, SCN11A, NGFB, TRKA, NRTN and GFRA2. Our findings suggest three hypotheses: (1) that development or maintenance of sensory innervation to cutaneous vasculature and sweat glands may be under separate genetic control from that of all other cutaneous sensory innervation, (2) the latter innervation is preferentially vulnerable to some environmental factor, and (3) vascular and sweat gland afferents may contribute to conscious cutaneous perception.

Septo-optic dysplasia with bilateral congenital corneal anesthesia.

Septo-optic dysplasia, or de Morsier syndrome, is characterized by optic nerve hypoplasia with an absent septum pellucidum and/or pituitary abnormalities. Congenital corneal anesthesia is a rare disorder that has been associated with many neurological disorders. Here we present a patient with both conditions who was successfully treated with permanent lateral tarsorrhaphy and aggressive lubrication. To our knowledge, congenital corneal anesthesia has not been reported in association with septo-optic dysplasia. The purpose of this report is to make pediatric ophthalmologists aware of a potential association since the diagnosis of congenital corneal anesthesia is often difficult and delayed.

Anestesia em paciente com insensibilidade congênita a dor e anidrose / Anestesia en paciente con insensibilidad congénita al dolor y anhidrosis / Anesthesia in a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain and anhidrosis

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A insensibilidade congênita a dor e anidrose (ICDA) ou neuropatia hereditária sensorial e autonômica tipo IV (NHSA tipo IV) é neuropatia autossômica recessiva rara do grupo das neuropatias hereditárias sensoriais e autonômicas (NHSA), caracterizada por insensibilidade ao estímulo doloroso, anidrose e retardo mental. Existem poucos relatos sobre a conduta anestésica em pacientes com ICDA devido sua extrema raridade. O objetivo deste relato foi apresentar a conduta anestésica em paciente com ICDA submetida à artrodese de tornozelo esquerdo com colocação de haste e discutir as características de interesse para a anestesia nestes pacientes. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente com história de ICDA foi admitida para artrodese de tornozelo esquerdo devido à artropatia de Charcot. Na sala de operação foi monitorizada com eletrocardiógrafo, índice bispectral, SEF 95 por cento, pressão arterial não invasiva e saturação periférica da hemoglobina, medicada com midazolam como pré-anestésico e submetida à anestesia venosa com propofol e cisatracúrio. Não houve a necessidade de administração de analgésicos. Após intubação traqueal, foi acrescentada monitorização da pressão expiratória final do gás carbônico e da temperatura esofágica. Não apresentou complicações no período perioperatório. Teve alta hospitalar no segundo dia de pós-operatório. CONCLUSÕES: Embora apresentem insensibilidade à dor, alguns pacientes apresentam hiperestesia tátil, o que poderia causar sensações desagradáveis durante a manipulação cirúrgica. Apesar de relatos na literatura de pacientes submetidos a bloqueios no neuroeixo e até mesmo a procedimentos sem anestesia, neste caso utilizou-se a anestesia venosa que proporcionou condições adequadas para o procedimento anestésico-cirúrgico.

ACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Congenital insensitivity to pain and Anhidrosis (CIPA) or hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV) is a rare autosomal recessive neuropathy of the group of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies (HSAN) characterized by insensitivity to pain, anhidrosis, and mental retardation. Since it is a rare condition, reports on the anesthetic conduct in patients with CIPA are not easily found in the literature. The objective of this report was to present the anesthetic conduct in a patient with CIPA undergoing left ankle arthrodesis with placement of an implant, and to discuss the characteristics of this disorder that concern anesthesiologists the most. CASE REPORT: A female patient with a history of CIPA was admitted for left ankle arthrodesis due to Charcot arthropathy. In the operating room, the patient was monitored with an electrocardiograph, bispectral index, 95 percent SEF, non-invasive blood pressure, and peripheral hemoglobin saturation; she was pre-medicated with midazolam and underwent intravenous anesthesia with propofol and cisatracurium. The administration of analgesics was not necessary. After tracheal intubation, monitoring of end-expiratory pressure of carbon dioxide and esophageal temperature were added. The patient did not develop postoperative complications. She was discharged from the hospital on the second postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is insensitivity to pain, some patients present tactile hyperesthesia that can cause unpleasant feelings during surgical manipulation. Despite reports in the literature of patients undergoing neuroaxis blocks, and even procedures without anesthesia, intravenous anesthesia, which provided adequate conditions for the anesthetic-surgical procedure was used in this case.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La falta de sensibilidad congénita al dolor y la anhidrosis (ICDA) o neuropatía hereditaria sensorial y autonómica tipo IV (NHSA tipo IV), es una neuropatía autosómica recesiva rara del grupo de las neuropatías hereditarias sensoriales y autonómicas (NHSA), caracterizada por la insensibilidad al estímulo doloroso, anhidrosis y retraso mental. Existen pocos relatos sobre la conducta anestésica en pacientes con ICDA, debido a su extrema raridad. El objetivo de este relato, fue presentar la conducta anestésica en paciente con ICDA sometida a la artrodesis de tobillo izquierdo con colocación de vástago y discutir las características de interés para la anestesia en esos pacientes. RELATO DEL CASO: Paciente con historial de ICDA que fue admitida para artrodesis de tobillo izquierdo debido a la artropatía de Charcot. En la sala de operación, fue monitorizada con electrocardiógrafo, índice bispectral, SEF 95 por ciento, presión arterial no invasiva y saturación periférica de la hemoglobina, y medicada con midazolam como preanestésico. Posteriormente fue sometida a anestesia venosa con propofol y cisatracurio. No hubo necesidad de administrar analgésicos. Después de la intubación traqueal, se le monitoreó la presión expiratoria final del gas carbónico y de la temperatura esofágica. No presentó complicaciones en el período perioperatorio. Obtuvo su alta al segundo día del postoperatorio. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque presenten insensibilidad al dolor, algunos pacientes debutan con hiperestesia táctil, lo que podría causar sensaciones desagradables durante la manipulación quirúrgica. A pesar de los relatos en la literatura de pacientes sometidos a bloqueos en el neuro eje, e incluso a procedimientos sin anestesia, en ese caso se usó la anestesia venosa, proporcionando condiciones adecuadas para el procedimiento anestésico-quirúrgico.

Orthopedic aspects of familial insensitivity to pain due to a novel nerve growth factor beta mutation.

BACKGROUND: Congenital insensitivity to pain is a rare hereditary sensory neuropathy. PATIENTS: We present 6 patients from a family with a mutation in the nerve growth factor beta gene (NGFB). RESULTS: 3 patients were homozygous with a mutilating arthropathy starting early in life, and 3 patients were presumably heterozygous with a milder course starting in adulthood. All patients had normal mental abilities. In addition to absence of deep pain, the patients had impaired temperature sensation, but no autonomic deficiency. Sural nerve biopsies showed a moderate loss of A-delta fibres and a severe reduction in C fibers. Clinically, the disorder most often affected the lower extremities, with an insidious progressive joint swelling or a painless fracture, but the spine could also be involved with gross and unstable spondylolisthesis. Fracture healing was uneventful, but the arthropathy was progressive, eventually resulting in gross deformity and instability. When treating patients with congenital disorders such as this one, it is important to consider the slowly progressive nature of the disorder, and the orthopedic operations should therefore be planned from a long-term standpoint. Arthrodesis, limb lengthening and spinal decompression or fusion are the only elective procedures that seem reasonable. Fitting of orthosis for joint protection is also demanding. To delay the development of neuropathic arthropathy, patient education is essential but difficult in the very young. INTERPRETATION: The different expression between homo- and heterozygous subjects and the central role of nerve growth factor make this disease an interesting model system for studies of disease mechanisms and the molecular background to pain.

Congenital insensitivity-to-pain with anhidrosis (CIPA): a case report with 4-year follow-up.

Congenital Insensitivity-to-pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare disorder in which pain perception is absent from birth, despite the fact that all other sensory modalities remain intact or minimally impaired and tendon reflexes are present. The challenge in dentistry is to manage the self-mutilation behavior avoiding serious damages especially to oral structures, hands and fingers. A Brazilian case of CIPA is presented and discussed with clinical documentation of the oral-related problems over a 4-year follow-up. A conservative treatment (mouthguard-like appliance) was proposed with the objective to avoid full mouth extraction.

Congenital insensitivity to pain--review and report of a case with dental implications.

Pain is a protective mechanism for the body. Absence of pain is a symptom in several disorders, both congenital and acquired. The congenital types are present at birth and affect the number and distribution of types of nerve fibers. At present, 5 types of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies have been identified. The various disorders within this group are classified according to the different patterns of sensory and autonomic dysfunction and peripheral neuropathy and the presence of additional clinical features such as learning disability. However, the field is currently moving away from classification based on clinical presentation toward classification based on underlying genetic abnormality. In the absence of pain, patients are at risk of late presentation with illnesses or injuries, and have an increased incidence of traumatic injury. Self-mutilation is an almost invariable feature of these disorders. We report the case of a patient with congenital insensitivity to pain that presented with self-mutilation injuries to his hands and oral tissues caused by biting. The severe nature of these injuries necessitated serial extraction of his primary teeth soon after eruption, which led to a cessation of the problem. The mutilation has not returned following the eruption of the first of his permanent teeth, suggesting that he has learned not to bite himself, even though to do so causes him no discomfort.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with Anhidrosis (NTRK1 mutation) and early onset renal disease: clinical report on three sibs with a 25-year follow-up in one of them.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase 1 (NTRK1) gene which encodes the receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF). We report the clinical course in three sibs with CIPA and proven NTRK1 gene mutations with a follow-up over a 25-year period in one of them. They had the characteristic clinical features of an abnormally high pain threshold, and mental retardation; in addition their clinical course was marked by the occurrence of early onset renal disease with recurrent microhematuria and proteinuria and frequent observations of increased serum creatinine and blood urea levels. Light microscopy study of a renal biopsy performed in one of them at age of 20 months showed focal glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. This patient and his younger brother died because of renal failure at the age of 25 years and 14 years, respectively. The sister still alive showed renal impairment and deep venous thrombosis associated with lupus anticoagulant activity, decrease of circulating autoreactive CD5 (+) B lymphocytes and increased urinary levels of IgG and kappa and lambda light chains, suggesting a possible defect in regulation of B-lymphocyte function. In the light of the NGF-related molecular defect, the extraneurological tissue involvement in CIPA might in part reflect dysregulation of immune mechanisms which possibly brings about a chronic inflammatory response. This, in turn, could result in renal disease which should be mentioned among the life-threatening complications associated with this disorder.

[Difficulty in the management of congenital insensitivity to pain]. / Difficulté de prise en charge d'une insensibilité congénitale à la douleur.

UNLABELLED: We report a case of hereditary sensitive neuropathy associated with insensitivity to pain in an infant. CASE REPORT: The girl was born after a normal full term pregnancy. She was hospitalized in the neonatal period because of hypotonia and recurrent cyanotic episodes due to false passage. The diagnosis of insensitivity to pain was suspected at nine months of age, as parallel with dentition, multiple mutilations of the tongue and the fingers were observed. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy taken from the sural nerve which showed a rarefaction of small myelinated fibres whereas unmyelinated fibres remained unaltered. At the age of six years, the general condition was good and the neurologic developement was satisfactory, neurotrophic and urologic complications currently being the main problem. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary and specialized care associated with parental compliance was necessary to minimize the complications of this potentially severe disorder.