Decrease in pain perception during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case series.

ABSTRACT: Many reports have described pain appearance or an increase of chronic pain concomitant to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we describe the cases of three patients with chronic cancer pain, in which COVID-19 was associated with a dramatic reduction/disappearance of pain. Pain reappeared following recovery from COVID-19. Neurological imaging and pathological findings, when available, were inconclusive. To our knowledge, this is the first case series reporting an acute reduction in pain perception in COVID-19. We believe further investigation is mandatory, as it could shed new light on the mechanisms of pain perception and modulation.