Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures as biomarkers of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) phenotypes is still unclear. We aimed to determine the clinical correlates of TMS measures in FMS patients. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis that included 58 patients. We performed standa...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-05-01
|
| Series: | Biomedicines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/6/1543 |
| _version_ | 1797595981541277696 |
|---|---|
| author | Kevin Pacheco-Barrios Danielle Carolina Pimenta Anne Victorio Pessotto Felipe Fregni |
| author_facet | Kevin Pacheco-Barrios Danielle Carolina Pimenta Anne Victorio Pessotto Felipe Fregni |
| author_sort | Kevin Pacheco-Barrios |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The role of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures as biomarkers of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) phenotypes is still unclear. We aimed to determine the clinical correlates of TMS measures in FMS patients. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis that included 58 patients. We performed standardized TMS assessments, including resting motor threshold (MT), motor-evoked potential (MEP), short intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracortical facilitation (ICF). Sociodemographic, clinical questionnaires, and quantitative sensory testing were collected from all of the patients. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were built to explore TMS-associated factors. We found that SICI did not significantly correlate with pain levels but was associated with sleepiness, comorbidities, disease duration, and anxiety. On the other hand, ICF showed a positive correlation with pain levels and a negative correlation with body mass index (BMI). BMI was a negative effect modifier of the ICF and pain association. The clinical correlates of MT and MEP were scarce. Our results suggest that SICI and ICF metrics are potential phenotyping biomarkers in FMS related to disease compensation and levels of pain perception, respectively. The clinical translation of TMS paired-pulse protocols represents an opportunity for a mechanistic understanding of FMS and the future development of precision treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:45:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bccd6e63949d4f6ea3bc371ed7cefe91 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:45:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj.art-bccd6e63949d4f6ea3bc371ed7cefe912023-11-18T09:24:50ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592023-05-01116154310.3390/biomedicines11061543Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional StudyKevin Pacheco-Barrios0Danielle Carolina Pimenta1Anne Victorio Pessotto2Felipe Fregni3Neuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USANeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USANeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USANeuromodulation Center and Center for Clinical Research Learning, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USAThe role of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures as biomarkers of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) phenotypes is still unclear. We aimed to determine the clinical correlates of TMS measures in FMS patients. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis that included 58 patients. We performed standardized TMS assessments, including resting motor threshold (MT), motor-evoked potential (MEP), short intracortical inhibition (SICI), and intracortical facilitation (ICF). Sociodemographic, clinical questionnaires, and quantitative sensory testing were collected from all of the patients. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were built to explore TMS-associated factors. We found that SICI did not significantly correlate with pain levels but was associated with sleepiness, comorbidities, disease duration, and anxiety. On the other hand, ICF showed a positive correlation with pain levels and a negative correlation with body mass index (BMI). BMI was a negative effect modifier of the ICF and pain association. The clinical correlates of MT and MEP were scarce. Our results suggest that SICI and ICF metrics are potential phenotyping biomarkers in FMS related to disease compensation and levels of pain perception, respectively. The clinical translation of TMS paired-pulse protocols represents an opportunity for a mechanistic understanding of FMS and the future development of precision treatments.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/6/1543fibromyalgiatranscranial magnetic stimulationintracortical inhibitionintracortical facilitation |
| spellingShingle | Kevin Pacheco-Barrios Danielle Carolina Pimenta Anne Victorio Pessotto Felipe Fregni Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study Biomedicines fibromyalgia transcranial magnetic stimulation intracortical inhibition intracortical facilitation |
| title | Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Motor Cortex Inhibition and Facilitation Correlates with Fibromyalgia Compensatory Mechanisms and Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | motor cortex inhibition and facilitation correlates with fibromyalgia compensatory mechanisms and pain a cross sectional study |
| topic | fibromyalgia transcranial magnetic stimulation intracortical inhibition intracortical facilitation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/11/6/1543 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kevinpachecobarrios motorcortexinhibitionandfacilitationcorrelateswithfibromyalgiacompensatorymechanismsandpainacrosssectionalstudy AT daniellecarolinapimenta motorcortexinhibitionandfacilitationcorrelateswithfibromyalgiacompensatorymechanismsandpainacrosssectionalstudy AT annevictoriopessotto motorcortexinhibitionandfacilitationcorrelateswithfibromyalgiacompensatorymechanismsandpainacrosssectionalstudy AT felipefregni motorcortexinhibitionandfacilitationcorrelateswithfibromyalgiacompensatorymechanismsandpainacrosssectionalstudy |