PainRelief.com: What are the main findings?
Response: The main finding of our study is a common genetic variant that is associated with how well women with chronic pelvic pain respond to gabapentin. Specifically, we found that a genetic change located within the Neuregulin 3 (NRG3) gene is associated with how effectively gabapentin relieves pain. NRG3 is a gene that is involved in the regulation and repair of the nervous system. Additionally, we found that this genetic variant is linked to specific brain imaging features, which may further explain its role in pain experience and how well gabapentin works.
PainRelief.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: The exciting part of our findings are how response to gabapentin in treating chronic pelvic pain may be influenced by an individual’s genetic differences. This finding highlights the importance of personalised medicine, where treatments can be tailored based on someone’s genetic makeup. Understanding these genetic factors can lead to more effective and targeted therapies for chronic pain management, aiming to reduce the trial-and-error approach often associated with pain treatment.
PainRelief.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: Future research should focus on further investigating the role of NRG3 in pain perception and gabapentin treatment response. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings and explore the potential for using genetic markers to predict treatment outcomes. Additionally, exploring the mechanisms by which NRG3 influences gabapentin efficacy could provide insights into new therapeutic targets for chronic pain.
PainRelief.com: Is there anything else you would like to add? Any disclosures?
Response: We would like to thank the Chief Scientists Office who financially supported this research and the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation Program, a Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research partnership who funded the GaPP2 trial. Of note, Scott C Mackenzie is listed as a co-inventor on a patent application (UK Patent App No. 2217921.2, International Patent App No. PCT/GB2023/053076) relating to the use of the NRG3 genetic variant as a predictive test to determine the efficacy of gabapentin for chronic pelvic pain treatment.
Citation: Genome-wide association reveals a locus in neuregulin 3 associated with gabapentin efficacy in women with chronic pelvic pain
Mackenzie, Scott C. et al.
iScience, Volume 0, Issue 0, 110370
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Last Updated on July 16, 2024 by PainRelief.com