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Research ArticleFibromyalgia

Microstructural Evidence of Neuroinflammation for Psychological Symptoms and Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia

Yu-Chun Lo, Tang Jun Tiffany Li, Ting-Chun Lin, You-Yin Chen and Jiunn-Horng Kang
The Journal of Rheumatology August 2022, 49 (8) 942-947; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.211170
Yu-Chun Lo
1Y.C. Lo, PhD, The Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University;
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Tang Jun Tiffany Li
2T.J.T. Li, MD, Department of Medicine, Taipei Medical University;
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Ting-Chun Lin
3T.C. Lin, PhD, Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University;
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You-Yin Chen
4YY. Chen, PhD, The Ph.D. Programfor Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University;
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Jiunn-Horng Kang
5J.H. Kang, MD, PhD, Graduate Institute of Nanomedicine and Medical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, and Professional Master Program in Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
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  • For correspondence: jhk@tmu.edu.tw
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Abstract

Objective In patients with fibromyalgia (FM), the brain shows altered structure and functional connectivity, but the mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. This study investigated the associated changes in brain microstructures and neuroinflammation of patients with FM.

Methods We recruited 14 patients with FM and 14 healthy controls (HCs). Visual analog scale (VAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used for assessing their pain, anxiety, and depression levels, respectively. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) was used to visualize microstructural alterations associated with neuroinflammation in specific brain regions. The biomarkers for neuron damage, including serum tau and amyloid β protein fragment 1-42 (Aβ1-42) levels, were assessed. Spearman correlation of DKI parameters with VAS, BAI, and BDI-II scores as well as tau and Aβ1-42 levels were assessed.

Results The patients with FM had significantly higher levels of Aβ1-42 levels than HCs. Compared with HCs, the patients with FM showed significantly lower DKI parameters in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. Patients with FM showed a significant correlation between the axial kurtosis values of the amygdala and VAS scores (left: ρ = −0.60, P = 0.02; right: ρ = −7.04, P = 0.005).

Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use DKI to examine the brains of patients with FM. We noted significant DKI changes associated with neuroinflammation at specific areas in patients with FM. Our results provide valuable information on brain neuroinflammation and pathophysiological changes in patients with FM.

Key Indexing Terms:
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • diffusion kurtosis imaging
  • fibromyalgia
  • neuroinflammation
  • pain
  • Accepted for publication April 20, 2022.
  • Copyright © 2022 by the Journal of Rheumatology
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The Journal of Rheumatology
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1 Aug 2022
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Microstructural Evidence of Neuroinflammation for Psychological Symptoms and Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia
Yu-Chun Lo, Tang Jun Tiffany Li, Ting-Chun Lin, You-Yin Chen, Jiunn-Horng Kang
The Journal of Rheumatology Aug 2022, 49 (8) 942-947; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.211170

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Microstructural Evidence of Neuroinflammation for Psychological Symptoms and Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia
Yu-Chun Lo, Tang Jun Tiffany Li, Ting-Chun Lin, You-Yin Chen, Jiunn-Horng Kang
The Journal of Rheumatology Aug 2022, 49 (8) 942-947; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.211170
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Keywords

ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
diffusion kurtosis imaging
FIBROMYALGIA
neuroinflammation
PAIN

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Keywords

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • diffusion kurtosis imaging
  • fibromyalgia
  • neuroinflammation
  • pain

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