Trigeminal Neuralgia : Epidemiology, Sex Differences, and Pharmacogenetics

Session Title: Trigeminal Neuralgia : Epidemiology, Sex Differences, and Pharmacogenetics

Topic: CLINICAL SCIENCE

Description of Workshop: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is among the most severe facial pain conditions, with marked heterogeneity in presentation, treatment response, and long-term outcomes. This workshop brings together international experts to explore TN from three complementary perspectives: large-scale epidemiology, sex differences in outcomes, and pharmacogenetics in drug treatment.
Prof. Joanna Zakrzewska will present UK epidemiological data from over 50,000 TN patients, including comparisons with other facial pain disorders and insights from machine learning analyses. She will highlight the long-term impact of antiepileptic drug use, the role of comorbidities, and advances in outcome measurement.
Dr. Teekayu Jorns will address pharmacogenetic considerations in TN management, focusing on adverse effects and hypersensitivity in Asian populations and the role of lacosamide as an alternative. He will review emerging treatments, including vixotrigine and basimglurant, and their potential integration into TN care.
Dr Jacob Worm will discuss emerging evidence on sex differences in TN, covering epidemiology, clinical presentation, neuroimaging, and comorbidities. Drawing on a five-year prospective cohort comparing medical and surgical outcomes, he will show how sex influences treatment trajectories and pain-free survival, and the implications for patient selection, counseling, and future trial design.
By combining big-data epidemiology, individualized patient characteristics, and pharmacogenetic insights, this workshop will provide practical tools to optimize TN management across diverse populations and stimulate discussion on future research priorities.

Speakers