Neurovascular contact plays no role in trigeminal neuralgia secondary to multiple sclerosis. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noory, Navid; Smilkov, Emil Andonov; Frederiksen, Jette Lautrup; Heinskou, Tone Bruvik; Andersen, Anne Sofie Schott; Bendtsen, Lars; Maarbjerg, Stine
• Is Part Of: Cephalalgia. Volume 41:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 593
• Page End: 603
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Trigeminal neuralgia -- multiple sclerosis -- neurovascular contact -- demyelinating plaque -- microvascular decompression; Headache -- Periodicals; 616.8491
• DOI: 10.1177/0333102420974356
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0333-1024

Abstract

Introduction: A demyelinating plaque and neurovascular contact with morphological changes have both been suggested to contribute to the etiology of trigeminal neuralgia secondary to multiple sclerosis (TN-MS). The aim of this study was to confirm or refute whether neurovascular contact with morphological changes is involved in the etiology of TN-MS. Methods: We prospectively enrolled consecutive TN-MS patients from the Danish Headache Center. Clinical characteristics were collected systematically. MRI scans were done using a 3.0 Tesla imager and were evaluated by the same experienced blinded neuroradiologist. Results: Sixty-three patients were included. Fifty-four patients were included in the MRI analysis. There was a low prevalence of neurovascular contact with morphological changes on both the symptomatic side (6 (14%)) and the asymptomatic side (4 (9%)), p = 0.157. Demyelinating brainstem plaques along the trigeminal afferents were more prevalent on the symptomatic side compared to the asymptomatic side (31 (58%) vs. 12 (22%), p < 0.001). A demyelinating plaque was highly associated with the symptomatic side (odds ratio = 10.6, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The primary cause of TN-MS is demyelination along the intrapontine trigeminal afferents. As opposed to classical trigeminal neuralgia, neurovascular contact does not play a role in the etiology of TN-MS. Microvascular decompression should generally not be offered to patients with TN-MS. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT04371575)