Frequency of Cutaneous Allodynia among Patients of Migraine: Cutaneous Allodynia Among Patients of Migraine

Tahir Khan; Asif Hashmat; Muhammad Babar; Tariq Khan; Wali Rehman; Atta Rasool

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v6i11.3514

Authors

Tahir Khan Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Asif Hashmat Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Muhammad Babar Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Tariq Khan Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Wali Rehman Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Atta Rasool Department of Neurology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v6i11.3514

Keywords:

Migraine, Central Sensitization, Allodynia Symptom Checklist, Migraine with Aura

Abstract

Cutaneous allodynia (CA) is considered a marker of central sensitization in migraine and is characterized by the perception of pain from non-painful stimuli. Objective: To determine the frequency of CA among migraine patients. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done between May and August 2025 at the Neurology Department of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, enrolling 194 patients diagnosed with migraine based on ICHD-3 criteria. CA was evaluated based on the validated 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12), on which the severity was determined as none, mild, moderate, or severe. The analysis of data was done using SPSS version 27.0. Results: Among 194 patients, the overall frequency of CA was 132 (68.0%). The severity was distributed as mild (29.9%), moderate (25.3%), and severe (12.9%). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of allodynia and female gender (73.8% vs. 48.9% in males, p=0.004) as well as migraine with aura (77.6% vs. 63.0% in migraine without aura, p=0.024). No significant associations were found with age or residence. Conclusion: CA is a frequent comorbidity among migraine patients in our region. Its significant association with female gender and migraine with aura highlights the need for routine clinical assessment. Early identification can guide targeted treatment strategies to mitigate central sensitization and improve patient outcomes.

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