Small fibre pathology, small fibre symptoms and pain in fibromyalgia syndrome


Marshall, Anne ORCID: 0000-0002-2331-3750, Rapteas, Leandros, Burgess, Jamie ORCID: 0000-0002-7165-6918, Riley, David, Anson, Matthew ORCID: 0000-0001-9991-7369, Matsumoto, Kohei, Bennett, Amanda, Kaye, Stephen ORCID: 0000-0003-0390-0592, Marshall, Andrew ORCID: 0000-0001-8273-7089, Dunham, James et al (show 8 more authors) (2024) Small fibre pathology, small fibre symptoms and pain in fibromyalgia syndrome Scientific Reports, 14 (1). 3947-. ISSN 2045-2322, 2045-2322

Access the full-text of this item by clicking on the Open Access link.

Abstract

AbstractA proportion of people with fibromyalgia demonstrate small fibre pathology (SFP). However, it is unclear how SFP directly relates to pain phenomenology. Thirty-three individuals with FMS and ten healthy volunteers underwent assessment of SFP and sensory phenotyping using corneal confocal microscopy, validated questionnaires and quantitative sensory testing (QST). Corneal nerve fibre length was used to stratify participants with fibromyalgia into with SFP [SFP+] and without SFP [SFP−]. SFP was detected in 50% of the fibromyalgia cohort. Current pain score and QST parameters did not differ between SFP+ and SFP−. Mechanical pain sensitivity (MPS) demonstrated a significant gain-of-function in the SFP− cohort compared to healthy-volunteers (p = 0.014, F = 4.806, η2 = 0.22). Further stratification revealed a cohort without structural SFP but with symptoms compatible with small fibre neuropathy symptoms and a significant gain in function in MPS (p = 0.020 Chi-square). Additionally, this cohort reported higher scores for both depression (p = 0.039, H = 8.483, η2 = 0.312) and anxiety (p = 0.022, F = 3.587, η2 = 0.293). This study confirms that SFP is present in a proportion of people with fibromyalgia. We also show that in a proportion of people with fibromyalgia, small fibre neuropathy symptoms are present in the absence of structural SFP. Greater mechanical pain sensitivity, depression and anxiety are seen in these individuals.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Nerve Fibers, Humans, Fibromyalgia, Pain, Pain Threshold, Small Fiber Neuropathy
Divisions: Faculty of Health & Life Sciences
Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Life Courses & Medical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 26 Feb 2024 09:23
Last Modified: 22 May 2026 15:30
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54365-6
Open Access URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54365-6
Related Websites:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3178862
Disclaimer: The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.
Altmetric
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)