The journal of pain : official journal of the American Pain Society
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Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) is associated with enhanced pain sensitivity. The present study explores the role of personality on the perception of noxious stimuli among women with VVS. More specifically, the aim of the study was to explore whether the personality traits assessed by Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) (harm avoidance [HA], novelty seeking [NS], and reward dependence [RD]) are associated with the augmented pain perception in women with VVS. ⋯ The enhanced pain perception among women with VVS might reflect their tendency to respond intensely to signals of reward and to elevate the perceived risk. This might lead them to avoid hazards by overestimating the level of potential harm, as represented by greater pain sensitivity. The association between personality traits assessed by Cloninger's Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire, ie, harm avoidance, novelty seeking, and reward dependence, and the enhanced perception of noxious stimuli in vulvar vestibulitis syndrome might suggest neurochemical mechanisms of pain experience affected by personality, with possible application for future treatment approaches toward pain disorders.
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The present series of experiments examined whether the complement cascade might play a key role in the expression of mechanical allodynia. Soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1) was used to block the activation of the membrane attack pathway of the complement cascade. In doing so, sCR1 prevents the formation of the biologically active end products C3a, C5a, and membrane attack complexes (MACs). ⋯ The mechanisms whereby complement activation might potentially affect the functioning of microglia, astrocytes, and neurons are discussed. The complement cascade has not been previously implicated in spinal sensitization. These data suggest that complement activation within the spinal cord might contribute to enhanced pain states and provide additional evidence for immune regulation of pain transmission.