Increased interstitial concentrations of pyruvate and lactate in the trapezius muscle of patients with fibromyalgia: a microdialysis study.

OBJECTIVE

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.