TMJ pain in relation to circulating neuropeptide Y, serotonin, and interleukin-1 beta in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain is influenced by circulating levels of neuropeptide Y, serotonin, and interleukin-1 beta in rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Forty-three seropositive (RF+) or seronegative (RF-) rheumatoid arthritis patients and 24 healthy individuals were included in the study.


RESULTS
High serum concentrations of serotonin were associated with low TMJ pressure pain thresholds and pain during mandibular movement in the RF+ patients. The results of this study do not support a relationship between circulating neuropeptide Y or interleukin-1 beta and TMJ pain. The RF+ patients had higher C-reactive protein levels and erythrocyte sedimentation rates than the RF- patients. There were also higher plasma levels of interleukin-1 beta in the RF+ patients than in the healthy individuals. Plasma levels of neuropeptide Y in the RF- patients were higher than in the healthy individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that the serum concentration of serotonin is associated with TMJ allodynia in seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.
Alstergren
P
P
Department of Clinical Oral Physiology, University of Linköping, Sweden.
Ernberg
M
M
Kopp
S
S
Lundeberg
T
T
Theodorsson
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000097:blood*
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007375:Interleukin-1; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D012701:Serotonin; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor