Plasma Dopamine Level as a Biomarker for Pain in Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders

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Published 2025-08-07
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20428/yjms.v19i8.3080

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Kamal T. A Al-Ghllabi
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Khaldon T. S. A Al-Buriahy
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Ahmed A. Al-Hammadi
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Sarah A. A. Al-Zamzami
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Omar A. S. A. Abdulmajeed
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Asma Hasan Farhan
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Khlood Saif Al-amery
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Sarah Hamza Abdo
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Hani Abdulmalik Alezzi
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.
Ahmed Abdulfattah Al-Hammadi
Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Taiz City Branch, Yemen, Dentistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Science and Technology, Aden, Yemen.

Abstract

Background: Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders (M-TMD) are characterized by chronic pain and dysfunction of the jaw muscles, often linked to stress and neurochemical imbalances. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in pain modulation, has been proposed as a potential biomarker for M-TMD-related pain. This study aimed to evaluate plasma dopamine levels in M-TMD patients compared to healthy controls and explore its role as a pain biomarker.


Objective: The primary objective was to assess plasma dopamine levels in M-TMD patients and correlate them with clinical pain symptoms.


Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 50 participants (25 M-TMD patients and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls). Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes, centrifuged at 2000 g for 10 minutes, and plasma was stored at −60°C. Dopamine levels were measured in nM. Clinical data, including age, gender, symptoms, and OPG findings, were recorded. Statistical analysis included mean comparisons (t-test) and subgroup analysis by gender and age.


Results: Plasma dopamine levels were significantly higher in M-TMD patients (mean: 5.01 nM) compared to controls (mean: 2.53 nM; p < 0.001). Female M-TMD patients had slightly higher dopamine levels (mean: 5.12 nM) than males (mean: 4.89 nM), though not statistically significant (p = 0.23). Common symptoms in M-TMD patients included bruxism (44%), morning jaw stiffness (40%), and stress-related jaw tension (56%). All patients exhibited mild condylar flattening on OPG, and no significant correlation was found between dopamine levels and age (r = 0.12, p = 0.34).


Conclusion: Elevated plasma dopamine levels in M-TMD patients suggest its potential role as a biomarker for pain and stress-related pathophysiology. The findings support further investigation into dopaminergic pathways in M-TMD and personalized treatment strategies targeting neurochemical imbalances. 

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Keywords

Plasma dopamine, biomarker, myofascial temporomandibular disorders (M-TMD/TMD), chronic orofacial pain modulation, Neurochemical imbalance, DC/TMD (Diagnostic Criteria for TMD), HPLC-ECD, stress-related jaw dysfunction.

Issue
Vol. 19 No. 8 (2025)
Section
Original Article
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite
[1]
Al-Ghllabi , K.T.A. et al.trans. 2025. Plasma Dopamine Level as a Biomarker for Pain in Myofascial Temporomandibular Disorders. Yemeni Journal for Medical Sciences. 19, 8 (Aug. 2025). DOI:https://doi.org/10.20428/yjms.v19i8.3080.