Altered sensory nerve excitability in fibromyalgia

Hao-Wen Teng; Jowy Tani; Tsui-San Chang; Hung-Ju Chen; Yi-Chen Lin; Cindy Shin-Yi Lin; Jia-Ying Sung

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association (Aug 2021)

Altered sensory nerve excitability in fibromyalgia

Hao-Wen Teng,
Jowy Tani,
Tsui-San Chang,
Hung-Ju Chen,
Yi-Chen Lin,
Cindy Shin-Yi Lin,
Jia-Ying Sung

Affiliations

Hao-Wen Teng: Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Cheng-Ching Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Jowy Tani: Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan
Tsui-San Chang: Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Hung-Ju Chen: Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yi-Chen Lin: Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Cindy Shin-Yi Lin: Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University and National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan; Translational Research Collectives, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain & Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia
Jia-Ying Sung: Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Neurology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, No. 111, Sec. 3, Xinglong Rd., Wenshan Dist., Taipei City 116, Taiwan. Fax: +886 21 2930 2447.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 120, no. 8
pp. 1611 – 1619

Abstract

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Background/purpose: To investigate nerve excitability changes in patients with fibromyalgia and the correlation with clinical severity. Methods: We enrolled 20 subjects with fibromyalgia and 22 sex and age-matched healthy subjects to receive nerve excitability test and nerve conduction study to evaluate the peripheral axonal function. Results: In the fibromyalgia cohort, the sensory axonal excitability test revealed increased superexcitability (%) (P = 0.029) compared to healthy control. Correlational study showed a negative correlation between increased subexcitability (%) (r = −0.534, P = 0.022) with fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) score. Computer modeling confirmed that the sensory axon excitability pattern we observed in fibromyalgia cohort was best explained by increased Barrett–Barrett conductance, which was thought to be attributed to paranodal fast K+ channel dysfunction. Conclusion: The present study revealed that paranodal sensory K+ conductance was altered in patients with fibromyalgia. The altered conductance indicated dysfunction of paranodal fast K+ channels, which is known to be associated with the generation of pain.

Published in Journal of the Formosan Medical Association

ISSN: 0929-6646 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-the-formosan-medical-association/

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