Congenital insensitivity to pain—review and report of a case with dental implications

Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis: A Case Report

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 4 (HSAN4), or congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the NTRK1 gene, resulting in pain insensitivity, anhidrosis, and temperature dysregulation. This report focuses on oral manifestations in an 11-year-old girl with CIPA, highlighting the need for early intervention and comprehensive care. The patient had a history of recurrent oral injuries and an unexplained fever, with a confirmed HSAN4 diagnosis through genetic analysis. Clinical features included pain insensitivity, anhidrosis, and intellectual disability. Dental history revealed emergency care, suboptimal oral hygiene, early tooth loss, and infections. Extra-oral examination showed nail-biting and injuries, while intra-oral assessment revealed ulcers and scars. Radiographic evaluation indicated mandibular alveolar bone thinning and periapical lesions in the lower incisors. This case emphasizes the complex challenges of CIPA, including pain insensitivity, recurring fever episodes, and self-inflicted injuries. Early diagnosis and specific dental care are vital to prevent orofacial trauma, necessitating a proactive interdisciplinary approach for comprehensive care.

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis syndrome: A series from Jordan

OBJECTIVES

To present the clinical picture, the associated complications and the genetic findings of Jordanian patients diagnosed with Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective study including 7 patients diagnosed with CIPA presenting to Jordan University Hospital neurology clinic between 2001 and 2017.

RESULTS

Among five families, seven patients were diagnose with CIPA and followed for a period ranging from one month to 6 years. The initial symptom observed in all patients was high fever in the first few days after birth, decreased sensation to pain and decreased sweating were later noted. Poor weight gain, microcephaly and global developmental delay were present in most cases. All patients had tongue ulcerations. Fingers/toes ulcerations were present in 6/7 (86.0 %), hip joint dislocation in 3/7 (43.0 %), chronic arthritis and joint swelling in 6/7 (86.0 %), corneal ulcers in 4/7 (57.1 %) and kidney amyloidosis in 1/7 (13.0 %) of all patients. Death occurred in 4/7 (57.1 %) patients. Consanguinity was present in all families. Mutation analysis revealed three variants in NTRK1 gene. The frameshift (c.1860_1861insT; p.Pro621fs) mutation was common in our series. One patient carried a novel missense mutation (c.2170 G > A; p.Gly724Ser). The third missense mutation (C2125 G > T; p.Val709Leu) was reported in a previous study in one patient.

CONCLUSION

This cohort reveals a severe CIPA phenotype necessitating thorough multidisciplinary care and follow up.

Office-Based Anesthetic and Oral Surgical Management of a Child With Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy Type IV: A Case Report

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN IV), or congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis, is an exceptionally rare genetic disorder that results in the complete loss of pain and temperature sensation as well as anhidrosis. Anesthetic management of these patients can be difficult because of significantly increased risks during general anesthesia. Literature on perioperative anesthetic management is typically written in the context of a hospital setting. As such, our case presents a unique report on the anesthetic management of a HSAN IV patient who presented for extraction of 2 teeth in an office-based setting. In determining how to safely manage the procedure, we decided against general anesthesia as we lacked the facilities and equipment to safely handle previously reported complications. We were successful in providing sedation with nitrous oxide in oxygen and applying 20% benzocaine topical ointment on the surgical site in lieu of administering general anesthesia. We had an anesthesiologist present and obtained intravenous access prior to the surgery to help manage any complications. This report provides support that simple dental extractions can be accomplished safely in the HSAN IV patient in the office-based setting, thereby avoiding unnecessary risk.

Pontine Tegmental Cap Dysplasia and Challenges in Facial Reconstructive Surgery

Pontine tegmental cap dysplasia (PTCD) is a rare condition that affects the brain stem and multiple cranial nerves, which can result in bilateral facial palsies, hearing loss, bilateral trigeminal nerve dysfunction, oculomotor apraxia, feeding difficulties, seizures, hypotonia, and undeveloped speech. We document a case in which a patient with PTCD presents with a challenging lip deformity and requires multidisciplinary treatment to improve reconstructive surgical success and treatment outcomes. An extensive literature review was conducted. This report serves to increase awareness of PTCD and the need for multidisciplinary teams to participate in reconstruction of facial defects in a complex medical setting.

Oral manifestations, dental management, and a rare homozygous mutation of the PRDM12 gene in a boy with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type VIII: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type VIII is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder. Chen et al. recently identified the causative gene and characterized biallelic mutations in the PR domain-containing protein 12 gene, which plays a role in the development of pain-sensing nerve cells. Our patient's family was included in Chen and colleagues' study. We performed a literature review of the PubMed library (January 1985 to December 2016) on hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type I to VIII genetic disorders and their orofacial manifestations. This case report is the first to describe the oral manifestations, and their treatment, of the recently discovered hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type VIII in the medical and dental literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report on the oral manifestations and dental management of an 8-month-old white boy with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy-VIII over a period of 16 years. Our patient was homozygous for a mutation of PR domain-containing protein 12 gene and was characterized by insensitivity to pain and thermal stimuli, self-mutilation behavior, reduced sweat and tear production, absence of corneal reflexes, and multiple skin and bone infections. Oral manifestations included premature loss of teeth, associated with dental traumata and self-mutilation, severe soft tissue injuries, dental caries and submucosal abscesses, hypomineralization of primary teeth, and mandibular osteomyelitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of scientific knowledge on hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy due to the rarity of the disease often results in a delay in diagnosis, which is of substantial importance for the prevention of many complications and symptoms. Interdisciplinary work of specialized medical and dental teams and development of a standardized treatment protocols are essential for the management of the disease. There are many knowledge gaps concerning the management of patients with hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy-VIII, therefore more research on an international basis is needed.

Hereditary sensory and autosomal peripheral neuropathy-type IV: case series and review of literature

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) IV is a rare autosomal recessive disorder which is characterized by a decrease in the number of myelinated and non-myelinated nerve fibers of peripheral nerves which causes diminished or absent pain sensation leading to increase in self-mutilative habits. A retrospective study of eight cases ranging from age group of 4 to 17 years for oral and digital signs and symptoms is presented. All the patients showed congenital insensitivity to pain and anhidrosis. Oral self-mutilations, such as autoextraction of teeth and severe bite injuries (with resultant scarring) of the finger tips and oral soft tissues (tongue, lip, and buccal mucosa) were found in most patients. Our study suggests that early diagnosis and specific treatment plan are important for prevention of characteristic of the oral as well as digital trauma associated with this disorder.

Calcium-permeable ion channels in pain signaling

The detection and processing of painful stimuli in afferent sensory neurons is critically dependent on a wide range of different types of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, including sodium, calcium, and TRP channels, to name a few. The functions of these channels include the detection of mechanical and chemical insults, the generation of action potentials and regulation of neuronal firing patterns, the initiation of neurotransmitter release at dorsal horn synapses, and the ensuing activation of spinal cord neurons that project to pain centers in the brain. Long-term changes in ion channel expression and function are thought to contribute to chronic pain states. Many of the channels involved in the afferent pain pathway are permeable to calcium ions, suggesting a role in cell signaling beyond the mere generation of electrical activity. In this article, we provide a broad overview of different calcium-permeable ion channels in the afferent pain pathway and their role in pain pathophysiology.

Oral and craniofacial manifestations and two novel missense mutations of the NTRK1 gene identified in the patient with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system resulting from mutations in neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 gene (NTRK1), which encodes the high-affinity nerve growth factor receptor TRKA. Here, we investigated the oral and craniofacial manifestations of a Chinese patient affected by autosomal-recessive CIPA and identified compound heterozygosity in the NTRK1 gene. The affected boy has multisystemic disorder with lack of reaction to pain stimuli accompanied by self-mutilation behavior, the inability to sweat leading to defective thermoregulation, and mental retardation. Oral and craniofacial manifestations included a large number of missing teeth, nasal malformation, submucous cleft palate, severe soft tissue injuries, dental caries and malocclusion. Histopathological evaluation of the skin sample revealed severe peripheral nerve fiber loss as well as mild loss and absent innervation of sweat glands. Ultrastructural and morphometric studies of a shed tooth revealed dental abnormalities, including hypomineralization, dentin hypoplasia, cementogenesis defects and a dysplastic periodontal ligament. Genetic analysis revealed a compound heterozygosity- c.1561T>C and c.2057G>A in the NTRK1 gene. This report extends the spectrum of NTRK1 mutations observed in patients diagnosed with CIPA and provides additional insight for clinical and molecular diagnosis.

Old fractures in two patients with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis: radiological findings

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare autosomal recessive disease that is characterized by anhidrosis, insensitivity to noxious stimuli, and mental retardation. Patients who suffer from CIPA easily sustain injuries due to pain insensitivity. Radiological findings in two CIPA patients revealed several old fractures of which the patients were unaware of previous injury. An early diagnosis of CIPA is important for the prevention and treatment of various complications. Our data indicate that radiological findings may provide important information for the diagnosis of CIPA.

Novel neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 gene mutation associated with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect in neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor and nerve growth factor, as reported in previous studies. This report is of a 6-month-old male infant with typical symptoms and signs of congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis. He had a homozygous insertion mutation with c.2086_2087 ins C of neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 (NTRK1) gene with both parents as heterozygous carriers. This mutation may have a strong relation to hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV Taiwanese patients. This is the youngest reported patient in Taiwan and first reported with congenital insensitivity to pain with mutation of NTRK1 gene inherited from the parents. Early diagnosis may provide appropriate medical care and education for these children and their families for better prognosis.

Oral self-injurious behaviors in patients with developmental disabilities

Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) in patients who have developmental disabilities is a complex disorder, and its underlying etiologies are poorly understood. SIB is a significant factor in hospitalizations, decisions to use psychotropic medications, and institutional placement for people who have developmental disabilities. Because this group often manifests oral SIB, the dentist may be the first professional called upon to evaluate a patient. Dental therapy focuses on symptomatic treatment to minimize tissue damage caused by SIB, but addressing the underlying impetus for the behavior is essential for successful treatment. Determining definitive therapeutic interventions is difficult because of the mixed bio behavioral etiologies for SIB. This complication necessitates a team approach that includes medical and behavioral specialists.