Tumor Necrosis Factor, Interleukin-1β, and Tissue Oxygen Levels in Myofascial Pain and Fibromyalgia Syndromes

Abstract

Objectives: First, to determine the serum levels of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor [TNF-α] and interleukie-1β [IL-1β] and tissue oxygen levels in groups of patients with chronic, soft-tissue-pain fibromyalgia [FMS], myofascial pain syndrome [MPS], and in healthy controls. Second, to determine if any differences exist between FMS and MPS subjects in relation to the above-mentioned parameters.

Methods: Ten patients who fulfilled the established criteria for FMS, 10 patients who fulfilled the established criteria for MPS, and 10 healthy controls comprised the subject groups. A trigger or tender point in the upper trapezius muscle was identified and a tissue oximeter [RunMan device] was placed over that point to record tissue oxygen levels. The subjects thee abducted the ipsilateral shoulder to 90 degrees for 5 minutes [min] with no additional weight, for 3 min with a 1-kg weight, and for 2 min with a 2-kg weight, with 4-min rest intervals between each contraction exercise. Blood was drawn at baseline before exercise, and then again at intervals up to 60 min after the final contraction/relaxation trial. The tissue oximeter readings were recorded for the entire exercise protocol and for five min thereafter.

Results: The tissue oximeter, which measures deoxygenated blood in situ, detected no significant differences in tissue oxygenation among the three groups. The FMS and MPS subjects did not have a significantly higher serum TNF-α level than the controls. Most of the subjects in all three groups had non-detectable serum IL-1β levels.

Conclusion: The origin of MPS and FMS pain does not appear to be related to local tissue hypoxia or to cytokine-induced soft tissue sensitization.

KEYWORDS:

• Myofascial pain syndrome
• fibromyalgia
• tumor necrosis factor-α
• interleukin-1β