Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of substance P in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To measure, and seek clinical correlates with, levels of substance P (SP) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients.


METHODS
CSF from 32 FMS patients and 30 normal control subjects was tested for SP by radioimmunoassay. Clinical measures included tender point examination and standardized questionnaires.


RESULTS
CSF SP levels were 3-fold higher in FMS patients than in normal controls (P < 0.001), but they correlated only weakly with tenderness found on examination.


CONCLUSIONS
SP is significantly elevated in FMS CSF, but other abnormalities must exist in FMS to more fully explain the symptoms.
Russell
I J
IJ
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7874.
Orr
M D
MD
Littman
B
B
Vipraio
G A
GA
Alboukrek
D
D
Michalek
J E
JE
Lopez
Y
Y
MacKillip
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013129:Spinal Puncture / Q000009:adverse effects; D013373:Substance P / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D013373:Substance P