Increased concentrations of nerve growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a difference in the concentration of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients diagnosed with primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), fibromyalgia associated with other secondary conditions (SFM), patients with other painful conditions but lacking fibromyalgia (OTHER), and healthy controls.


METHODS
The clinical measures of pain threshold included the tender point index, a measure of pain threshold intensity measured by digital pressure, and the average pain threshold measured by dolorimetry. Concentrations of NGF in the CSF were measured using a 2 site enzyme immunoassay.


RESULTS
The mean (+/- SEM) concentration of NGF measured in patients with FM was significantly increased (41.8 +/- 12.7 pg/ml) compared to controls (9.1 +/- 4.1 pg/ml), but with large variability. Concentrations of NGF is SFM (8.9 +/- 4.4 pg/ml) and OTHER (16.2 +/- 8.4 pg/ml) were not elevated compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of increased concentrations of NGF in patients with FM suggest a central mechanism, involving abnormalities in neuropeptides such as NGF, may be a factor in the pathogenesis of FM.
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
S L
SL
Giovengo
I J
IJ
Russell
A A
AA
Larson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D017288:Pain Threshold
D020932:Nerve Growth Factor