NO EVIDENCE FOR ENDORPHIN DEFICIENCY IN FIBROMYALGIA FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION OF CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID (CSF) DYNORPHIN-A AND MET-ENKEPHALIN-ARG6-PHE7

The CSF levels of Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and dynorphin A were measured in patients with fibromyalgia. The mean CSF Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 level was 35.1 +/- 2.4 fmol/ml (mean +/- S.E.M.). The mean CSF level of dynorphin A was 14.3 +/- 0.9 fmol/ml. Regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and dynorphin A (r = 0.5369, P = 0.001). When correlated to the previously measured CSF levels of beta-endorphin, a statistically significant correlation was found with Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 (r = 0.5055, P = 0.03) but not with dynorphin A (P > 0.05). The Met-enkephalin-Arg6-Phe7 and dynorphin A levels are elevated compared to the levels available for comparison groups. Therefore, a lack of endorphin secretion does not seem to be the basis for the hyperalgesia observed in these patients.