Decrease in adhesion molecules on polymorphonuclear leukocytes of 
patients with fibromyalgia.

Rheumatol Int. 2008 Dec 4. [Epub ahead of print]

Kaufmann I, Schelling G, Eisner C, Richter HP, Beyer A, Krauseneck T, 
Chouker A, Thiel M.

Department of Anesthesiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, 
Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81366, Munich, Germany.

PMID: 19052753


Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread pain condition in highly 
stressed humans.

Because stress is known to modulate adhesion molecule expression, we 
determined L: -selectin (CD62L) and beta(2)-integrin (CD11b/CD18) 
expression on the surface of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in 22 
patients with FM.

As compared to age and sex-matched healthy controls, FM patients 
showed a significantly decreased expression of CD62L (p < 0.01) and 
CD11b/CD18 (p < 0.05) on polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

These changes might lower the rate of polymorphonuclear leukocyte 
migration to sites of inflammation and thereby compromise defense 
against infections and pain control.