15-hydroxy-5-8-11-13-eicosatetraenoic-acid and Facial-Pain

Patients with chronic facial pain including those with facial arthromyalgia (TMJ dysfunction syndrome) were investigated for evidence of abnormal systemic and intra-articular free radical activity. Chronic facial pain patients showed significantly raised serum 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid after an oral dose of 1.2 g of aspirin which indicates increased systemic free radical activity. This was reflected in the TMJ aspirates of the facial arthromyalgia patients which contained thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBA-RS) which is also a product of free radical activity. The synovial aspirates also contained high levels of the hyperalgesic eicosanoid 15-HETE. However, there was no difference between the painful and symptom-free joints, which suggested that in part the clinical features are probably determined by asymmetrical masticatory function or as yet unknown algesic factors such as local cytokine production.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Aspirin; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Cytokines; Dinoprostone; Facial Pain; Female; Free Radicals; Gentisates; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; Iron Chelating Agents; Leukotriene B4; Male; Mastication; Middle Aged; Reactive Oxygen Species; Synovial Fluid; Temporomandibular Joint; Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome; Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances