Effect of antidepressant treatment on plasma levels of neuroinflammation-associated molecules in patients with somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain around the orofacial region

Objective: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) and atypical odontalgia (AO) are examples of somatic symptom disorders with predominant pain around the orofacial region. Neuroinflammation is thought to play a role in the mechanisms, but few studies have been conducted. We aimed to better understand the role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology and treatment of BMS/AO. Methods: Plasma levels of 28 neuroinflammation-related molecules were determined in 44 controls and 48 BMS/AO patients both pretreatment and 12-week post-treatment with duloxetine. Results: Baseline plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1β (p <.0001), IL-1 receptor antagonist (p <.001), IL-6 (p <.0001), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (p <.0001), and platelet-derived growth factor-bb (.04) were significantly higher in patients than in controls. Plasma levels of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p <.001) and decreased with treatment (.009). Plasma levels of eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor decreased significantly with treatment (p <.001,.022, and.029, respectively). Conclusions: Inflammatory mechanisms may be involved in the pathophysiology and/or treatment response of somatic symptom disorders with predominant pain around the orofacial region.