Trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis: Association with demyelination and progression

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a well-recognized symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet its clinical characteristics related to MS subtype is poorly studied. Our aim was to evaluate whether development and clinical outcome of TN are influenced by MS phenotype.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, our database from 2007 to 2022 was reviewed to identify patients who had both the diagnosis of MS and TN, whether TN was an initial symptom of MS or developed later in diagnosis. A detailed medical history and treatment outcome was obtained. Pain status was assessed retrospectively using the Barrow Neurological Institute Pain Scale (BNI-PS), with BNI-PS I-III considered as good pain control and BNI-PS IV-V as poor pain control.

Results: 58 patients had MS-related TN. 44 patients had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) at the time of TN diagnosis, 11 had secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) at the time of TN diagnosis, and type of MS was not clear in 3 patients at the time of TN diagnosis (either RRMS or SPMS). Over a mean follow up of 18.8 (SD=10.9) years, 30 transitioned to SPMS. TN was refractory to medical management in 9 RRMS and 22 SPMS patients (p = 0.001). TN patients with RRMS required lower median number of pain medications compared to SPMS (p = 0.014). Brain MRI was available in 41 of the entire cohort. Of these, 27 patients had demyelinating lesions in the trigeminal sensory pathway and 14 did not. Patients with existing lesions had a higher chance of failure of medical management (74% versus 36%, p = 0.017) and required surgical intervention (55% versus 7%, p = 0.003).

Discussion: TN was not seen in primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). In patients who transitioned to SPMS, TN was more likely to be refractory to medical management. TN was more refractory in the presence of demyelinating plaque involving trigeminal sensory pathway.