Session Information
Title: Fibromyalgia, Soft Tissue Disorders, Regional and Specific Clinical Pain Syndromes: Research Focus
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)
Background/Purpose This study was designed to investigate the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and spinal inhibitory circuits in FMS by electrophysiological studies and compare the results with healthy controls.
Methods Thirty patients with FMS diagnosed according to ACR classification criteria and thirty 30 age matched healthy controls were recruited to the study. Patients were clinically examined and evaluated by Beck depression scale, SF-36 and fibromyalgia impact questionnare scales. Upper and lower extremity nerve conduction studies were performed to both groups to detect a large diameter peripheral neuropathy such as carpal tunnel syndrome or polyneuropathy. For evaluating the ANS, sympathetic skin response (SSR), R-R interval variation (Heart rate variability-RRIV) were studied. Spinal inhibitory circuits were assessed with cutaneous silent period (CSP)
Results: There were no statistically significant differences in distal latencies, amplitudes and nerve conduction velocities of motor and sensory nerves (p>0.05). Latencies and amplitudes of SSR recorded from median and tibial nerve, CSP latency and duration recorded from abductor pollicis brevis muscle and tibialis anterior muscle in FMS and healthy controls were also similar (p>0.05). Heart rate variability (RRIV) recorded from FS patients were significantly lower in comprasion to healthy controls (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Heart rate variability was the only significant abnormal electrophysiological parameter in patients with FMS which suggested that there was an ANS dysfunction in FMS. Despite SSR is one of the classical methods for the assesment of sympathetic fibers impairment to evaluate peripheral neuropathies, patients with FMS had no abnormality. We thought that this parameter is not sensitive enough to detect an abnormality in patients with FMS. We also evaluated cutaneous silent period (CSP) which refers to the brief interruption in voluntary contraction that follows strong electrical stimulation of a cutaneous nerve. The CSP is a protective reflex that is mediated by spinal inhibitory circuits and is reinforced in part by parallel modulation of the motor cortex. According to our study this reflex was not effected in patients with FMS.
Disclosure:
I. Ustun,
None;
I. Yagci,
None;
G. Akyuz,
None;
F. Unlu,Ozkan,
None.
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ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/electrophysiological-evaluation-of-autonomic-nervous-system-and-cutaneous-silent-period-in-patients-with-fibromyalgia-syndrome/