Pain Sensitivity and Thermal Detection Thresholds in Young Adults Born Preterm With Very Low Birth Weight or Small for Gestational Age at Term Compared With Controls.The objective of this prospective long-term follow-up study was to investigate whether somatosensory function is altered among young adults born preterm with very low birth weight (VLBW; ≤1,500 g) or small for gestational age (SGA; <10th percentile) at term.  In a blinded quantitative sensory testing protocol, we determined thermal detection, thermal pain, and pressure pain thresholds and the response to prolonged supra-threshold heat among 51 VLBW, 66 term SGA, and 86 term-born controls (birth weight ≥10th percentile) at 28 years.  Except for increased sensitivity to cool in the term SGA group versus controls, we found no significant group differences regarding thermal or pain thresholds.  In conclusion, low birth weight young adults were as sensitive to thermal and pain stimuli as term-born, normal birth weight controls, with the same sex differences.


 To our knowledge, this is the first report on thermal and pain sensitivity among young adults born preterm with VLBW or SGA at term. 
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