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Descending antinociception and fibromyalgia
1Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Heidelberg, Germany. mense@novsrvr1.pio1.uni-heidelberg.de
Zeitschrift Fur Rheumatologie
|February 20, 1999
Summary
Dysfunction in the descending antinociceptive system may cause fibromyalgia pain. Animal studies show interrupting this system increases nerve activity, potentially explaining pain symptoms in patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Fibromyalgia Pathophysiology
Background:
- Fibromyalgia is a complex pain disorder.
- The descending antinociceptive system modulates pain signals.
- Its dysfunction is hypothesized to contribute to fibromyalgia pain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the hypothesis that descending antinociceptive system dysfunction underlies fibromyalgia pain.
- To correlate animal model findings with potential human fibromyalgia symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Review of animal experimentation data.
- Analysis of the effects of spinal cord cooling on nociceptive neurons.
- Comparison of responses to deep versus cutaneous nociceptors.
Main Results:
- Spinal cord cooling in animals increased neuronal activity, lowered stimulation thresholds, and amplified responses.
- These effects were more pronounced for deep nociceptor input than cutaneous input.
Conclusions:
- Impaired descending antinociceptive system function in humans could lead to spontaneous pain, tenderness, and hyperalgesia.
- Fibromyalgia pain, particularly deep pain, may result from this system's impairment.