Research indicates that women with a specific form of a pain gene are more likely to benefit from a common medication for chronic pain.
A study revealed that women with chronic pelvic pain who had a particular genetic variation in the Neuregulin 3 gene were more responsive to the pain-relief drug gabapentin.
Identifying individuals with this genetic marker could help avoid ineffective treatments and unnecessary side effects for those who may not respond well to the medication, experts suggest.
These findings could enhance the use of gabapentin in managing chronic pelvic pain, a condition affecting one in four women globally.
Gabapentin, often prescribed for long-term pain, works on the central nervous system to decrease heightened pain sensitivity commonly seen in individuals with chronic conditions.
Previous research by the University of Edinburgh indicated that gabapentin was beneficial for specific women, resulting in moderate pain relief for 40% of participants with pelvic pain.
In a recent study conducted in collaboration with the University of Oxford, 71 women with chronic pelvic pain were examined after receiving gabapentin – 29 experienced relief while 42 did not.
The study identified a natural genetic variation in the Neuregulin 3 gene that determined the efficacy of gabapentin. This gene produces a protein found in the brain and spinal cord, influencing pain sensation and transmission.
These insights shed light on the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and may have implications for other pain-related conditions beyond pelvic pain, according to experts.
Further research involving a larger population of women is required to validate these findings. The study is backed by Edinburgh Innovations (EI), the University’s commercialization service, which has patented the discovery and is looking for partners to advance the research.
The study is published in the journal iScience and was funded by the EME program, a collaboration between the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), along with support from the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office.
Dr. Scott Mackenzie, the lead author of the study from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Reproductive Health, emphasized the potential of genetic markers in predicting treatment outcomes with gabapentin for personalized care in chronic pain management.
Dr. Susan Bodie, EI’s Head of Business Development for the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, highlighted the significance of identifying this genetic marker, which could enhance treatments for millions of women globally experiencing chronic pelvic pain and improve our understanding of different pain conditions.
