Pain-Related Cognitive Processes, Pain Interference, and Alexithymia in Patients With Primary Headaches.

Objectives This study aims to investigate the effects of pain-related cognitive processes (PRCPs) and emotional state on pain-related disability (PRD) and pain interference (difficulty in performing daily routines, difficulty in engaging in social activities [the enjoyment of life], and the impact on work and/or school performance) in patients with primary headaches (PHs). Methodology PRCPs were evaluated with the Pain Anxiety Symptom Scale-20 (PASS-20), Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), and Pain Belief Questionnaire (PBQ). Anxiety, depression, and alexithymia were investigated to assess the emotional state. PRD was assessed by Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was evaluated under three headings: daily activities (with Short Form-36 [SF-36] Question [Q] 22), social activities (with Graded Chronic Pain Scale-Revised [GCPS-R] Q 4), as well as the working ability (with GCPS-R Q 5). Two separate models were constructed to identify the factors influencing PRD and HRQoL in PHP: M1 to reveal the factors affecting PRD and M2 to determine the independent factors affecting pain interference. In both models, correlation analysis was applied first and the significant data were then evaluated with regression analysis. Results A total of 364 participants (74 healthy controls [HCs] and 290 PHPs) completed the study. In M1, the following domains were significantly associated with PRD: cognitive anxiety (ß = 0.098; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.001-0.405; P = 0.049); helplessness (ß = 0.107; 95% CI = 0.018-0.356; P = 0.031); alexithymia (ß = 0.077; 95% CI = 0.005-0.116; P = 0.033); depression (ß = 0.083; 95% CI = 0.014-0.011; P = 0.025). In M2, factors associated with impairment in daily activities for PHP were as follows: duration of pain, pain intensity, alexithymia, escape-avoidance response, psychological anxiety, anxiety, and poor sleep quality (R = 0.770; R2 = 0.588). The independent factors affecting social activities for PHP were pain intensity and pain-related anxiety (R = 0.90; R2 = 0.81). Independent risk factors that affected the ability to work for PHP were pain intensity, cognitive anxiety, escape-avoidance response, and pain anxiety (R = 0.90; R2 = 0.81). Conclusions This study highlights the importance of cognitive and emotional processes that help increase our understanding of the patient with PHs. This understanding may help to reduce disability and improve the quality of life in this population by helping to guide multidisciplinary treatment goals.

IVIg-induced headache: prospective study of a large cohort with neurological disorders.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous immune globulin (IVIg) is frequently used in some neurological diseases and is also the first-line therapy in Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, and multifocal motor neuropathy. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of headaches, which is one of the most common side effects of IVIg treatment. METHODS: Patients who received IVIg treatment for neurological diseases were prospectively enrolled in 23 centers. Firstly, the characteristics of patients with and without IVIg-induced headaches were analyzed statistically. Then, patients with IVIg-induced headaches were classified into three subgroups determined by their history: no primary headache, tension-type headache (TTH), and migraine. RESULTS: A total of 464 patients (214 women) and 1548 IVIg infusions were enrolled between January and August 2022. The frequency of IVIg-related headaches was 27.37% (127/464). A binary logistic regression analysis performed with significant clinical features disclosed that female sex and fatigue as a side effect were statistically more common in the IVIg-induced headache group. IVIg-related headache duration was long and affected daily living activities more in patients with migraine compared to no primary headache and TTH groups (p = 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Headache is more likely to occur in female patients receiving IVIg and those who develop fatigue as a side effect during the infusion. Clinicians' awareness of IVIg-related headache characteristics, especially in patients with migraine, may increase treatment compliance.

A variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: AMSAN.

Introduction - Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that has rapidly become a global pandemic and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have been developed with great success. In this article, we would like to present a patient who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), which is a serious complication after receiving the inactive SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac). Case report - A 76-year-old male patient presented to the emergency department with nine days of progressive limb weakness. Two weeks prior to admission, he received the second dose of CoronaVac vaccine. Motor examination revealed decreased extremity strength with 3/5 in the lower extremities versus 4/5 in the upper extremities. Deep tendon reflexes were absent in all four extremities. Nerve conduction studies showed predominantly reduced amplitude in both motor and sensory nerves, consistent with AMSAN (acute motor and sensory axonal neuropathy). Conclusion - Clinicians should be aware of the neuro-logical complications or other side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccination so that early treatment can be an option.