Research Article
Andrea Viggiano, Maria Beat
Abstract
Background: Auto-algometry has been previously proposed as a toll to evaluate hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. The aim of the present work was to confirm the robustness of this method and to evaluate other possible variables associated with hypertension and hypoalgesia. Methods: All routinary ambulatory data were collected from 111 hypertensive subjects along with the evaluation of pain threshold assessed with the auto-algometer. Results: The results confirmed the sensibility of the auto-algometer in revealing the hypertension-associated hypoalgesia and revealed unexpected higher pain thresholds in patients consuming angiotensin receptor 1 antagonists compared to patients consuming other medications. Conclusion: The results encourage the use of the auto-algometer to study unexplored mechanisms involved in hypertension and in hypoalgesia.