Increased incidence of a resonance in the phosphodiester region of 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the skeletal muscle of fibromyalgia patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are more susceptible to activity-induced muscle damage than are healthy subjects.


METHODS
Eleven FMS patients and 10 healthy subjects performed concentric and eccentric exercise with their dominant and nondominant forearms, respectively. 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (to assess inorganic phosphate [P(i)] and phosphocreatine [PCr]) and dolorimetry (to assess pain) were performed before and 20 minutes after exercise and at 4 subsequent 24-hour intervals.


RESULTS
Neither group exhibited increased P(i)/PCr ratios or reduced dolorimetry scores following the exercise protocols. FMS patients did display a phosphodiester resonance at a higher rate than healthy subjects (37% versus 12%), but this was not related to the exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Unchanged P(i)/PCr ratios and dolorimetry scores following acute exercise provide evidence against the hypothesis that FMS patients are more susceptible to activity-induced muscle damage than are healthy subjects, although P(i)/Pcr and pain may not adequately document such damage. The frequent occurrence of phosphodiester in the spectra of FMS patients may indicate a sarcolemmal abnormality in these subjects.
Jubrias
S A
SA
Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195.
Bennett
R M
RM
Klug
G A
GA
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010725:Phosphocreatine / Q000032:analysis; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes
D010710:Phosphates; D010759:Phosphorus Isotopes; D010725:Phosphocreatine