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Table 2 Pressure pain thresholds in fibromyalgia

From: Biology and therapy of fibromyalgia. Evidence-based biomarkers for fibromyalgia syndrome

Reference

Year of study

Number of FM patients

Number of control individuals

QST

QST method

Findings

Staud and colleagues [102]

2005

11

12

PPT: affected and CP

ASC

Decreased PPT (opposite of HC) after exercise

Sandberg and colleagues [103]

2005

19

19 HC, 7 TM

PPT: TP

ASC

FM, TM with decreased PPT

Montoya and colleagues [104]

2005

12

12

PPT, ERP

ASC

No difference (trend toward FM with decreased PPT). HC with decreased PPTs with repeat stimuli in one session. Decreased PPT for left hand versus right hand. FM decreased PPT in second assessment period (after EEG)

Laursen and colleagues [105]

2005

2005

10 FM/whiplash, 10 RA, 10 CLBP, 10 endometriosis

41

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM/whiplash, RA, endometriosis, CLBP with decreased PPT. Correlation between pressure hyperalgesia at lowest PPT sites and physical function impairment and mental health found

Landis and colleagues [51]

2004

37

30

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM women with decreased PPT. PPT correlated with sleep spindle incidence and duration

Landis and colleagues [106]

2004

33

37

PPT: TP

ASC

FM women with decreased PPT

Maquet and colleagues [107]

2004

20

50 females, 50 males

PPT: TP

ASC

HC with decreased intraindividual variation (FM w/24%). HC females with decreased PPT compared with HC males. FM with decreased PPT compared with HC females. No difference between dominant and nondominant hands. PPT reproducibility and discrimination optimal at gluteal and knee

Geisser and colleagues [108]

2003

20

20

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM with decreased PPT (more statistically significant than HPT). Catastrophizing correlated with decreased PPT. Depression associated with increased PPT

Yoldas and colleagues [47]

2003

11

10

PPT and ERP

ASC

FM reduced P300 amplitude, correlated well with PPT

Ernberg and colleagues [109]

2003

18

n/a

PP: over masseter

ASC

No difference (trend toward decreased PPT after antagonist)

Carli and colleagues [110]

2002

145 (FM, CFS, WP, MPTE, MP)

22

PPT: CP and TP, HPT, CPT, cold pressor test, ischemic tourniquet test

ASC

FM with decreased PPT (CFS, MPTE), HPT (CFS), cold pressor test (CFS), ischemic tourniquet test (CFS, MPTE, WP, MP) than HC

Hedenberg-Magnusson and colleagues [111]

2002

18

15 masseter myalgia

PPT: over masseter

ASC

Decreased PPT after treatment in both groups. Correlated with symptoms

Ernberg and colleagues [112]

2000

12

12 HC, 12 RA

PPT: masseter

ASC

FM with decreased PPT

Graven-Nielsen and colleagues [113]

2000

15 FM ketamine Responders

Placebo

EPT, PPT: TA muscle, PPT and pain tolerance: 3 TPs

ASC

Increased PPT at TA muscle, pain pressure tolerance after ketamine compared with placebo. Noted improvement in symptoms

Ernberg and colleagues [114]

2000

12

12

PPT

ASC

FM with no significant increase in pain or decrease in PPT. HC with increased pain and decrease in PPT after infusion

Ernberg and colleagues [115]

1999

18

10 HC, 17 local myalgia

PPT, pain tolerance: Masseter

ASC

FM with decreased PPT associated with higher fraction of masseter to serum serotonin levels

Kosek and Hansson [30]

1997

10

10

PPT

ASC

FM decreased PPT

Kosek and colleagues [31]

1996

10

10

PPT

ASC

FM decreased PPT

McDermid and colleagues [116]

1996

20

20 HC, 20 RA

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM decreased PT compared with RA, HC. RA decreased PT compared with HC

Kosek and colleagues [117]

1995

16

n/a

PPT at cream site

ASC

No difference in PPT after EMLA cream

Tunks and colleagues [118]

1995 1995

6

6 myofascial 6 pain controls, 6 HC

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM and myofascial pain was discriminated from HC by dolorimetry and palpation

Wolfe and colleagues [119]

1995

391

n/a

TPC, dolorimetry

ASC

PPT and TPC correlate with symptoms, but TPC correlates better

Gibson and colleagues [29]

1994

10

10

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM decreased PPT at CT and TP, but data not clearly shown

Lautenbacher and colleagues [120]

1994

26

26

PPT: CP and TP

ASC

FM decreased PPT

Granges and Littlejohn [121]

1993

60

60

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

FM decreased HPT, PPT, CPT in CP and TP

Lautenschlager and colleagues [122]

1991

47

n/a

PPT: TP and CP

ASC

Body diagram correlated better with dolorimetric findings than visual analog scale

  1. ASC, ascending; CFS, chronic fatigue syndrome; CLBP, chronic low back pain; CP, control point; CPT, cold pain threshold; CT, cold perception threshold; EEG, electroencephalography; EMLA, local anesthetic cream; EPT, electrical pain threshold; ERP, event-related potential; FM, fibro-myalgia; HC, healthy control individuals; HPT, heat pain threshold; MP, diffuse multiregional pain; MPTE, multiregional pain associated with at least 11 tender points; n/a, not applicable; PPT, pain pressure thresholds; QST, quantitative sensory testing; RA, rheumatoid arthritis; TA, tibialis anterior; TM, temporal mandibular disorder; TP, tender point; TPC, tender point count; WP, widespread pain.