title: Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors on platelets of fibromyalgic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to analyze if alterations of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) characteristics occurred in platelet membranes of patients affected by primary fibromyalgia (FM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Platelets were obtained from 30 patients with FM. Evaluation of kinetic parameters of PBR was performed using [(3)H] PK11195 as specific radioligand compared with 16 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a significant increase of PBR binding sites value in platelet membranes from FM patients (B(max) was 5366+/-188 fmol/mg vs. controls, 4193+/-341 fmol/mg, mean+/-SEM) (**p<0.01) but not for affinity value (K(d) was 4.90+/-0.39 nM vs. controls, 4.74+/-0.39 nM, mean+/-SEM) (p>0.05). Symptom severity scores (pain and tiredness) were positively correlated with B(max).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed an up-regulation of PBR in platelets of FM patients, and this seems to be related to the severity of fibromyalgic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, U.O of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bazzichi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giannaccini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Betti
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Italiani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fabbrini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Defeo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uccelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giusti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mascia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lucacchini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bombardieri
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D007546:Isoquinolines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C037850:PK 11195