Central sensitization in patients with cerebral small vessel disease

Objective. To evaluate the clinical manifestations of central sensitization in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) (with Fazekas II—III white matter hyperintensity). Material and methods. The study included four groups (two test groups and two comparison groups). The test group 1 (TG-Rus) included 50 Russian-speaking patients with a history of CSVD of more than 3 years and a tension and/or cervicogenic headache. The test group 2 (TG-Tat) included 50 Tatar-speaking patients with a history of CSVD of more than 3 years and a tension and/or cervicogenic headache. The comparison groups (CG-Rus and CG-Tat) included 50 Russian-speaking and Tatar-speaking patients with tension and/or cervicogenic headache without CSVD. To assess the central sensitization, the Russian-language and Tatar-language versions of the Central Sensitization Inventory were used. Results. There were statistically significant differences between the test and comparison groups. Significant differences were found in subclinical central sensitization between the TG-Rus and CG-Rus groups (p=0.002), TG-Tat and CG-Tat groups (p=0.001), pronounced differences between the TG-Rus and CG-Rus groups (p=0.03), TG-Tat and CG-Tat groups (p=0.046), and critical differences between TG-Tat and CG-Tat groups (p=0.046). Conclusion. When providing medical care to patients with CSVD, it is necessary to consider the possible comorbidity of pain syndromes and central sensitization, which can burden the clinical presentation and require a special therapeutic strategy.