Pain characterization in patients with Parkinson's disease

BackgroundPatients with Parkinson's disease (PD) often report chronic pain, which is one of the most complex non-motor symptoms. Therefore, this study aims to review the literature on the characteristics of pain in patients with PD.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted following MOOSE recommendations. Observational studies reporting pain in patients with PD were included. No time restrictions were applied, but studies in Portuguese, Spanish, and English were considered. The search was performed in PubMed (R), LILACS, and SciELO databases.ResultsTwenty-six articles of observational studies were identified, reporting an average pain prevalence of 67.36%, emphasizing the significance of this symptom in the PD population. Pain was reported in various body regions, including lower limbs, upper limbs, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and other joints. Pain classification varied, encompassing musculoskeletal pain, PD-related pain, neuropathic pain, and dystonic pain, among others.DiscussionPain in patients with PD is a prevalent and multifactorial condition, significantly impacting patients' quality of life.ConclusionHeterogeneity in data across included studies was observed, highlighting the need for additional research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of pain in patients with PD and develop effective therapeutic strategies to address this symptom and improve the quality of life for individuals living with the disease.