Photo Credit: Axel Kock

The following is a summary of “Comparative Analysis of Lysophosphatidic Acid Levels in Fibromyalgia and Other Painful Conditions in Female Patients,” published in the 23 April 2025 issue of European Journal of Pain by Menezes et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to analyze whether the decrease in lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in fibromyalgia (FM) serum was due to increased conversion to lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) through autotaxin (ATX) and how elevated LPA levels might modulate FM pain.  

They quantified LPA levels in serum and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and measured serum ATX levels in patients with FM. These levels were compared with those from healthy controls (HCs), and patients with osteoarthritis (OA), degenerative disc disease (DDD), and lumbar disc herniation (LDH).  

The results showed that serum LPA levels were elevated in patients with FM and OA, with no significant changes in fibromyalgia lumbar CSF. A positive correlation was found between serum LPA and conditioned pain modulation in patients with FM. In patients with OA, serum LPA levels were associated with pain intensity and knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores. Serum ATX levels in patients with FM were similar to those in HC, but a significant correlation was observed between ATX and LPA levels in 1 cohort, as well as with pain duration and maximal weekly pain intensity.  

Investigators concluded that increased LPA levels played distinct roles in FM and OA, with LPA linked to pain modulation in FM and pain intensity in OA. In contrast, ATX levels were associated with pain intensity and duration in FM. 

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ejp.70022