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Rheumatology 2000; 39: 917-921
© 2000 British Society for Rheumatology

Abnormal microcirculation and temperature in skin above tender points in patients with fibromyalgia

M. Jeschonneck1, G. Grohmann2, G. Hein and H. Sprott1,3,

1 Department of Internal Medicine IV and
2 Department of Internal Medicine III, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany and
3 Department of Rheumatology and Institute of Physical Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland

Objective. Skin temperature and skin blood flow were studied above different tender points in 20 patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and 20 healthy controls.

Methods. Blood flow was measured by laser Doppler flowmetry and skin temperature was measured with an infrared thermometer.

Results. In the skin above the five tender points examined in each subject, we found an increased concentration of erythrocytes, decreased erythrocyte velocity and a consequent decrease in the flux of erythrocytes. A decrease in temperature was recorded above four of the five tender points.

Conclusion. Vasoconstriction occurs in the skin above tender points in FM patients, supporting the hypothesis that FM is related to local hypoxia in the skin above tender points.

KEY WORDS: Fibromyalgia, Skin blood flow, Laser flowmetry, Temperature, Algometry

Correspondence to: H. Sprott, Department of Rheumatology and Institute of Physical Medicine, University Hospital Zürich, Gloriastrasse 25, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland.


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