Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of substance P in patients with the fibromyalgia syndrome

By Russell IJ, Orr MD, Littman B, Vipraio GA, Alboukrek D, Michalek JE

Arthritis Rheum. 1994 Nov;37(11):1593-601.

OBJECTIVE: To measure, and seek clinical correlates with, levels of substance P (SP) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients.

METHODS: CSF from 32 FMS patients and 30 normal control subjects was tested for SP by radioimmunoassay. Clinical measures included tender point examination and standardized questionnaires.

RESULTS: CSF SP levels were 3-fold higher in FMS patients than in normal controls (P < 0.001), but they correlated only weakly with tenderness found on examination.

CONCLUSION: SP is significantly elevated in FMS CSF, but other abnormalities must exist in FMS to more fully explain the symptoms.