CEREBRAL-DYSFUNCTION IN FIBROMYALGIA - EVIDENCE FROM REGIONAL CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW MEASUREMENTS, OTONEUROLOGICAL TESTS AND CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID ANALYSIS

Measurements of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), analysis of cereb rospinal fluid, auditory brain stem responses (ABR) and oculomotor tes ts were performed in 19 patients with fibromyalgia. The results from t he rCBF measurements showed a normal flow level with slight but signif icant focal flow decreases in dorsolateral frontal cortical areas of b oth hemispheres. The ABR results showed signs dysfunction at least at the brain stem level and the oculomotor tests showed high frequency of pathology. The cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed discrete changes i n the cell differential count. Possible explanations for the involveme nt of the central nervous system in fibromyalgia are discussed.