Publication
Title
Influence of morphine and Naloxone on pain modulation in rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia, and controls : a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study
Author
Abstract
Background Impaired pain inhibitory and enhanced pain facilitatory mechanisms are repeatedly reported in patients with central sensitization pain. However, the exact effects of frequently prescribed opioids on central pain modulation are still unknown. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial was carried out. Ten chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/fibromyalgia (FM) patients, 11 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 controls were randomly allocated to the experimental (10 mg morphine or 0.2 mg/mL Naloxone) and placebo (2 mL Aqua) group. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) and temporal summation at the Trapezius and Quadriceps were assessed by algometry. Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) efficacy and deep tissue pain pressure were assessed by adding ischemic occlusion at the opposite upper arm. Results Deep tissue pain pressure was lower and temporal summation higher in CFS/FM (P = 0.002 respectively P = 0.010) and RA patients (P = 0.011 respectively P = 0.047) compared to controls at baseline. Morphine had only a positive effect on PPTs in both patient groups (P time = 0.034). Accordingly, PPTs increased after placebo (P time = 0.015), and no effects on the other pain parameters were objectified. There were no significant effects of naloxone nor nocebo on PPT, deep tissue pain, temporal summation or CPM in the control group. Conclusions This study revealed anti-hyperalgesia effects of morphine in CFS/FM and RA patients. Nevertheless, these effects were comparable to placebo. Besides, neither morphine nor naloxone influenced deep tissue pain, temporal summation or CPM. Therefore, these results suggest that the opioid system is not dominant in (enhanced) bottom-up sensitization (temporal summation) or (impaired) endogenous pain inhibition (CPM) in patients with CFS/FM or RA.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Pain practice. - Place of publication unknown
Publication
Place of publication unknown : 2018
ISSN
1530-7085
DOI
10.1111/PAPR.12613
Volume/pages
18 :4 (2018) , p. 418-430
ISI
000429577700001
Pubmed ID
28722815
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 10.01.2018
Last edited 09.10.2023
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