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Abnormal responses to electrocutaneous stimulation in fibromyalgia
1Department of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
The Journal of Rheumatology
|November 1, 1993
Summary
Patients with fibromyalgia showed reduced pain tolerance and spread of abnormal sensations in their upper limbs, suggesting central nervous system changes in fibromyalgia pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pain Research
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Disturbed nociception is implicated in fibromyalgia pathogenesis.
- Understanding nociceptive processing is crucial for fibromyalgia research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nociceptive status in patients with fibromyalgia.
- To utilize nonnoxious electrocutaneous stimulation as a research tool.
Main Methods:
- Studied perception threshold and pain tolerance in upper limbs.
- Compared 10 fibromyalgia patients with 10 healthy volunteers.
Main Results:
- No difference in perception threshold between groups.
- Fibromyalgia patients exhibited significantly reduced pain tolerance.
- Dysesthesiae spread and persisted in fibromyalgia patients.
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia patients' upper limbs displayed characteristics of secondary hyperalgesia.
- Suggests central nociceptive mechanisms are perturbed in fibromyalgia pathogenesis.