Clinical Symptoms in Fibromyalgia Are Better Associated to Lipid Peroxidation Levels in Blood Mononuclear Cells Rather than in Plasma

Mario D Cordero,Francisco J Cano-García,Angel M Carrión,José A Sánchez Alcázar,Plácido Navas,Manuel De Miguel,Elísabet Alcocer-Gómez

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026915

Abstract

BackgroundWe examined lipid peroxidation (LPO) in blood mononuclear cells (BMCs) and plasma, as a marker of oxidative damage, and its association to clinical symptoms in Fibromyalgia (FM) patients.MethodsWe conducted a case–control and correlational study comparing 65 patients and 45 healthy controls. Clinical parameters were evaluated using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), visual analogues scales (VAS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Oxidative stress was determined by measuring LPO in BMCs and plasma.ResultsWe found increased LPO levels in BMCs and plasma from FM patients as compared to normal control (P<0.001). A significant correlation between LPO in BMCs and clinical parameters was observed (r = 0.584, P<0.001 for VAS; r = 0.823, P<0.001 for FIQ total score; and r = 0.875, P<0.01 for depression in the BDI). We also found a positive correlation between LPO in plasma and clinical symptoms (r = 0.452, P<0.001 for VAS; r = 0.578, P<0.001 for FIQ total score; and r = 0.579, P<0.001 for depression in the BDI). Partial correlation analysis controlling for age and BMI, and sex, showed that both LPO in cells and plasma were independently associated to clinical symptoms. However, LPO in cells, but not LPO in plasma, was independently associated to clinical symptoms when controlling for depression (BDI scores).DiscussionThe results of this study suggest a role for oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and that LPO in BMCs rather than LPO in plasma is better associated to clinical symptoms in FM.

Highlights

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic pain syndrome with an unknown etiology, which has been associated to a wide spectrum of symptoms like allodynia, debilitating fatigue, joint stiffness and depression
The essential findings of this study are that FM patients have significantly elevated levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) in blood mononuclear cells (BMCs) and plasma (MDA measured as Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS))
Our results show that LPO levels in BMCs are more strongly and independently associated than LPO levels in plasma with FM symptoms

Summary

Introduction

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic pain syndrome with an unknown etiology, which has been associated to a wide spectrum of symptoms like allodynia, debilitating fatigue, joint stiffness and depression. One of the consequences of ROS overproduction is lipid peroxidation (LPO) leading to oxidative destruction of polyunsaturated fatty acids constitutive of cellular membranes and the production of toxic and reactive aldehyde metabolites such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) [9,10]. These highly cytotoxic metabolites, produced in relatively large amounts, can diffuse from their site of origin to attack distant targets and form covalent bonds with various molecules [11,12,13]. We examined lipid peroxidation (LPO) in blood mononuclear cells (BMCs) and plasma, as a marker of oxidative damage, and its association to clinical symptoms in Fibromyalgia (FM) patients

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Results

Conclusion