Evaluation of biochemical variables in patients with trigeminal neuralgia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the calcium, sodium, potassium, serum iron, vitamin B12, and albumin concentrations, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, in samples of serum from patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia (TN), and investigate the associations between them. Results from 73 patients who had been diagnosed with primary TN between December 2015 and 2017 were compared with those of 70 healthy subjects. Calcium (p = 0.013), iron (p = 0.004), and albumin (p = 0.001) concentrations in the primary TN group were significantly lower than those in the control group, whereas the ALP activity was significantly higher in the TN group than in the control group (p = 0.007). However, there was no significant difference in the sodium, potassium, or vitamin B12 concentrations. Biochemical variables have a role in the pathogenesis and treatment of primary TN, but there are few studies that characterise the relations between the condition and the biochemical changes. Further studies are therefore necessary to gain more information. (C) 2018 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.