We present a case study of a 10-year-old child with severe burns that were misinterpreted as inflicted burns. Because of multiple injuries since early life, the family was under suspicion of child abuse and therefore under supervision of the Child Care Board for 2 years before the boy was burned. Because the boy incurred the burns without feeling pain, we conducted a thorough medical examinatio...

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhydrosis (CIPA) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by inability to feel pain and temperature, and decreased or absent sweating. Familiarity to this condition is important to avoid misdiagnosing it with leprosy and other peripheral nerve diseases. An inability to feel pain may lead to repeated self-trauma (tongue, lips and finger tips) ultimately lea...

We reviewed 13 patients with congenital insensitivity to pain. A quantitative sweat test was carried out in five and an intradermal histamine test in ten. DNA examination showed specific mutations in four patients. There were three clinical presentations: type A, in which multiple infections occurred (five patients); type B, with fractures, growth disturbances and avascular necrosis (three pati...

Investigators from New York University, NY, studied 14 patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), compared to 10 patients with chronically deficient sympathetic activity (pure autonomic failure), and 15 normal age-matched controls.

Pain is a major public health issue throughout the world. Increased understanding of the different forms of pain and identification of novel susceptibility genes could contribute to improved treatments. The main aims of this thesis were to identify the underlying genetic causes of pain by studying two large families affected with migraine and pain insensitivity, respectively. Migraine is one of...

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by insensitivity to pain, anhidrosis (the inability to sweat) and mental retardation. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a well-known neurotrophic factor essential for the survival and maintenance of NGF-dependent neurons, including primary afferent neurons with thin fibers and sympathetic...