Article

The aim of this study was to compare the interstitial concentrations
of pyruvate, lactate and glutamate in the trapezius muscle between patients with
fibromyalgia syndrome and healthy controls. DESIGN: Comparative cross-sectional
study. SUBJECTS: Patients with fibromyalgia (n = 19) and healthy controls (n =
19); all women. METHODS: Subjects answered a questionnaire about different
aspects of pain. Pressure pain thresholds over the trapezius and tibialis
anterior muscles were determined. The inter-stitial concentrations of pyruvate,
lactate and glutamate were determined in the resting trapezius muscle by the
microdialysis technique, with samples collected every hour for 5 consecutive
hours. Pain intensity was also rated. RESULTS: Significantly higher interstitial
concentrations of pyruvate and lactate were found in patients with fibromyalgia-
syndrome. The multivariate regression analyses of group membership and pressure
pain thresholds of the trapezius confirmed the importance of pyruvate and
lactate. CONCLUSION: Different mechanisms that may increase pyruvate and lactate
in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome are discussed. Improved understanding of
peripheral muscle alterations in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome could lead
to mechanism-based rehabilitation.

Langue : ANGLAIS