Features of orofacial and somatic pain manifestations in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis

Objective. To analyze intensity, time and pathophysiological type of somatic, orofacial and neuropathic pain symptoms in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Material and methods. An observational prospective study included 70 patients with CD and UC in remission. We analyzed status of oral mucosa and vermilion border. Somatic, orofacial and neuropathic pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and Douleur Neuropathique 4 (DN4) questionnaire. To estimate the symptoms of gastric and intestinal dyspepsia, we used a validated 7x7 questionnaire. Results. Severity of somatic abdominal pain was significantly higher patients with CD (p<0.05). On the background of extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases, intensity of nociceptive diffuse pain in the abdomen with unclear localization and pain-like distension in the stomach after eating was significantly higher in patients with CD (p<0.1). Incidence of neuropathic pain was similar in patients with CD and UC (p=0.037). Scores of orofacial pain following lesions vermilion border and oral mucosa were higher in patients with CD during intake of irritating food and personal hygiene (p<0.05). Mean intensity of orofacial pain corresponds to moderate pain regardless of manifestations of inflammatory bowel diseases (p=0.171). Neuropathic component of pain in these patients was diagnosed in 24.29% of cases. Conclusion. Somatic, orofacial and visceral pain occurs in all patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Signs of neuropathic pain are observed in 24.29% of cases. These data may be crucial for effective therapeutic approach to these patients.