Associations Among Nitric Oxide and Enkephalinases With Fibromyalgia Symptoms, 2020, Aguilar-Ferrándiz et al

Andy

Andy

Retired committee member
Background
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome of uncertain etiology, characterized by the presence of widespread pain. Both nitric oxide and enkephalinases modulate pain perception.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among serum nitric oxide levels, oxytocinase activity and enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidase (EDA) activity with pain-related clinical manifestations in women with fibromyalgia.

Methods
We performed an observational case study in a population of fifty-eight women diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Serum nitric oxide levels were analyzed by an ozone chemiluminescence-based assay. Both serum oxytocinase and EDA activities were fluorometrically determined. Pain threshold and pain magnitude were evaluated using the Pain Matcher. The pressure pain thresholds were measured using a digital pressure algometer. We used a Visual Analog Scale, the Central Sensitization Inventory, the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess the global level of pain, the symptoms associated with the central sensitization syndrome, the severity of fibromyalgia, and the anxiety level, respectively.

Results
Multiple linear regression analysis adjusted by age, body mass index, and menopause status revealed significant associations between nitric oxide levels and dominant occiput pressure pain thresholds, non-dominant occiput pressure pain thresholds, and fibromyalgia effects. Significant associations of oxytocinase activity with the visual analog scale and dominant knee pressure pain thresholds were also found. Moreover, results showed a significant association between high EDA activity levels and dominant second rib pressure pain thresholds.

Discussion
Our data have shown significant relationships of serum nitric oxide levels and oxytocinase and EDA activities with some body pressure pain thresholds, the daily activity level, and the global intensity of pain in women with fibromyalgia. These results suggest that pain, which is the main symptom of this syndrome, may be related to alterations in nitric oxide levels and in oxytocinase and EDA activities in patients with fibromyalgia.
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Paywall, https://journals.lww.com/nursingres...ng_Nitric_Oxide_and_Enkephalinases.99687.aspx
Sci hub, unable to access.
 
"These results suggest that pain, which is the main symptom of this syndrome, may be related to alterations in nitric oxide levels and in oxytocinase and EDA activities in patients with fibromyalgia." [My bolding.]

So why the inclusion of an anxiety inventory? I've no idea whether this work reveals anything meaningful about fibromyalgia, but the insistence on connecting women's pain with anxiety is infuriating.
 
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