Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.

INTRODUCTION:We characterized dermal innervation in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) as potential contribution to small fiber pathology. METHODS:Skin biopsies of the calf were collected (86 FMS patients, 35 healthy controls). Skin was immunoreacted with antibodies against protein gene produ...

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Main Authors: Dimitar Evdokimov, Philine Dinkel, Johanna Frank, Claudia Sommer, Nurcan Üçeyler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227674
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spelling doaj-ce5520d7065140e9acb465f29eefbb702021-03-03T21:25:10ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01151e022767410.1371/journal.pone.0227674Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.Dimitar EvdokimovPhiline DinkelJohanna FrankClaudia SommerNurcan ÜçeylerINTRODUCTION:We characterized dermal innervation in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) as potential contribution to small fiber pathology. METHODS:Skin biopsies of the calf were collected (86 FMS patients, 35 healthy controls). Skin was immunoreacted with antibodies against protein gene product 9.5, calcitonine gene-related peptide, substance P, CD31, and neurofilament 200 for small fiber subtypes. We assessed two skin sections per patient; on each skin section, two dermal areas (150 x 700 μm each) were investigated for dermal nerve fiber length (DNFL). RESULTS:In FMS patients we found reduced DNFL of fibers with vessel contact compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). There were no differences for the other nerve fiber subtypes. DISCUSSION:We found less dermal nerve fibers in contact with blood vessels in FMS patients than in controls. The pathophysiological relevance of this finding is unclear, but we suggest the possibility of a relationship with impaired thermal tolerance commonly reported by FMS patients.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227674
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Dimitar Evdokimov
Philine Dinkel
Johanna Frank
Claudia Sommer
Nurcan Üçeyler
spellingShingle Dimitar Evdokimov
Philine Dinkel
Johanna Frank
Claudia Sommer
Nurcan Üçeyler
Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
PLoS ONE
author_facet Dimitar Evdokimov
Philine Dinkel
Johanna Frank
Claudia Sommer
Nurcan Üçeyler
author_sort Dimitar Evdokimov
title Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
title_short Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
title_full Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
title_fullStr Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
title_sort characterization of dermal skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS ONE
issn 1932-6203
publishDate 2020-01-01
description INTRODUCTION:We characterized dermal innervation in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) as potential contribution to small fiber pathology. METHODS:Skin biopsies of the calf were collected (86 FMS patients, 35 healthy controls). Skin was immunoreacted with antibodies against protein gene product 9.5, calcitonine gene-related peptide, substance P, CD31, and neurofilament 200 for small fiber subtypes. We assessed two skin sections per patient; on each skin section, two dermal areas (150 x 700 μm each) were investigated for dermal nerve fiber length (DNFL). RESULTS:In FMS patients we found reduced DNFL of fibers with vessel contact compared to healthy controls (p<0.05). There were no differences for the other nerve fiber subtypes. DISCUSSION:We found less dermal nerve fibers in contact with blood vessels in FMS patients than in controls. The pathophysiological relevance of this finding is unclear, but we suggest the possibility of a relationship with impaired thermal tolerance commonly reported by FMS patients.
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227674
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