Evidence for an Altered Tryptophan Metabolism in Fibromyalgia

M.J. Schwarz; M. Offenbaecher; A. Neumeister; T. Ewert; M. Willeit; N. Praschak-Rieder; J. Zach; M. Zacherl; K. Lossau; R. Weisser; G. Stucki; M. Ackenheil

Neurobiology of Disease (Dec 2002)

Evidence for an Altered Tryptophan Metabolism in Fibromyalgia

M.J. Schwarz,
M. Offenbaecher,
A. Neumeister,
T. Ewert,
M. Willeit,
N. Praschak-Rieder,
J. Zach,
M. Zacherl,
K. Lossau,
R. Weisser,
G. Stucki,
M. Ackenheil

Affiliations

M.J. Schwarz: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
M. Offenbaecher: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
A. Neumeister: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
T. Ewert: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
M. Willeit: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
N. Praschak-Rieder: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
J. Zach: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
M. Zacherl: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
K. Lossau: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
R. Weisser: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
G. Stucki: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
M. Ackenheil: Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Munich, D-80336, Munich, Germany; Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892; Psychiatric Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 3
pp. 434 – 442

Abstract

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Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent syndrome with chronic pain and a hypothesized underlying disturbance of the tryptophan (TRP) metabolism. We performed a tryptophan depletion (TD) test in 17 FM patients and 17 controls. TRP, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), kynurenine (KYN), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Additionally pain perception was monitored in the FM patients. FM patients and controls exhibited a decrease of TRP and KYN during TD. 5-HIAA levels also decreased in all controls and in 11 FM patients, but showed a marked increase in 6 FM patients. IL-6 significantly increased during TD in the patients, but not in the controls. Pain perception was not affected in the FM patients. These data demonstrate an altered TRP metabolism in a subgroup of FM patients, where the TD seems to activate 5-HT metabolism. Our findings may have diagnostic as well as therapeutic implications in the field of fibromyalgia.

Published in Neurobiology of Disease

ISSN: 0969-9961 (Print); 1095-953X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/neurobiology-of-disease

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