Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the kinetic parameters of a specific serotonin transporter (SERT) and serotonin uptake in a mentally healthy subset of patients with fibromyalgia. Platelets were obtained from 40 patients and 38 healthy controls. SERT expression and functionality were evaluated through the measurement of [3H]paroxetine binding and the [3H]serotonin uptake itself. The values of maximal membrane binding capacity (Bmax) were statistically lower in the patients than in the healthy volunteers, whereas the dissociation constant (Kd) did not show any statistically significant variations. Moreover, a decrease in the maximal uptake rate of SERT (Vmax) was demonstrated in the platelets of patients, whereas the Michaelis constant (Km) did not show any statistically significant variations. Symptom severity score (tiredness, tender points index and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire) were negatively correlated with Bmax and with Vmax, and positively correlated with Km. A change in SERT seems to occur in fibromyalgic patients, and it seems to be related to the severity of fibromyalgic symptoms.
Highlights
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMs) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread pain and stiffness, multiple tender points, and fatigue [1]
We calculated the tender point index (TPi) as the sum of the scores of all tender points divided by the total number of tender points
The total score was the sum of the values of the 10 Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) items, which reflected the impact of FM and ranged from 0 to 100
Summary
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMs) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by widespread pain and stiffness, multiple tender points, and fatigue [1]. This pain syndrome has an incidence of 2% in the general population and occurs with higher frequency among women in middle age [2]. 5-HT, in particular, is theorized to have a function in stage 4 sleep and in the pain threshold [9]. This neurotransmitter is implicated in psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. The 5-HT gene could moderate the serotonergic response to stress [4]
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