Hao-Wen Teng1, Jowy Tani2, Tsui-San Chang3, Hung-Ju Chen3, Yi-Chen Lin3, Cindy Shin-Yi Lin4, Jia-Ying Sung5. 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. 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. Electronic address: sung.jiaying@tmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
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.
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.