title: Trigeminal neuralgia: a retrospective multicentre study of 320 Asian patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to obtain the clinicodemographic data regarding patients with trigeminal neuralgia (TN) treated at oral-maxillofacial medicine clinics, as there is a paucity of such information in the Asian setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective multicenter study involving clinicodemographic information of 320 patients with TN diagnosed between 2001 and 2012 at eight regional oral-maxillofacial medicine clinics and followed up for at least 6 months. Statistical tests were performed to assess the associations among the clinicodemographic factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TN was mostly diagnosed during the seventh and sixth decades of life, with a median of 58.2 years (interquartile range = 13.0). Females were more commonly affected (61.6%). TN affected the right side more frequently, and the mandibular branch was most commonly involved (58.5%). Carbamazepine was the first-line drug of choice (87.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asian patients with TN exhibited features similar to those in Caucasian patients except for the increased affliction of the mandibular division.
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Sultan Ismail Hospital, Johor, Malaysia. Electronic address: hansprakash@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hans Prakash
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Sathasivam
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, Kedah, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sumairi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ismail
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital, Pahang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Rahim
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nor Nazaliza
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Basri
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology & Oral Medicine Unit, Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Hartinie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muhamad
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Sultan Ismail Hospital, Johor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nur Fazilah
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Mohd Tahir
authors.affiliation: Dental Officer, Penang Health Services, Air Itam Clinic, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chee Lynn
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Saw
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Hospital Umum Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nurshaline
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hj Kipli
authors.affiliation: Oral Medicine & Oral Pathology Specialist, Stomatology, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shin Hin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000294:innervation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D002220:Carbamazepine