Blunted sudomotor reactivity in fibromyalgia is associated with levels of depression.
Clin Exp Rheumatol
; 42(6): 1170-1178, 2024 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38372725
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Assessment of sudomotor function by distal electrochemical skin conductance (ESC) can provide an index of peripheral neuropathy. This study explored ESC in fibromyalgia (FM) patients, controlling for tricyclic antidepressant use and body mass index, and its association with the clinical severity of the disease.METHODS:
ESC, clinical symptoms and an index of central pain sensitisation derived from pressure algometry were explored in thirty-three fibromyalgia patients and 33 healthy women.RESULTS:
ESC was significantly lower in fibromyalgia patients than healthy participants. About 51% of patients exhibited moderate-to-severe ESC dysfunction, indicative of possible neuropathy. However, ESC was not related to any indicators of clinical severity, nor to algometry. ESC only correlated with depression levels; the group differences in ESC disappeared after controlling for depression. Finally, ESC was asymmetric in the overall sample, with lower values seen in the right hand relative to the left one.CONCLUSIONS:
The greater prevalence of sudomotor dysfunction in fibromyalgia patients is consistent with the presence of neuropathy in subgroups of patients, and with the basic heterogeneity of the disorder. However, neuropathy does not appear helpful for determining the clinical features of the disorders, or the level of central sensitisation measured by pressure algometry. Future studies including patients with fibromyalgia suffering and not suffering from depression as well as patients with depression but free from chronic pain, are required to identify the role of depression in the observed low ESC levels.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad
/
Fibromialgia
/
Depresión
/
Respuesta Galvánica de la Piel
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Exp Rheumatol
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
España