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Evidence for abnormal pain processing in fibromyalgia syndrome
1Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. Staudr@ufl.edu
Pain Medicine (Malden, Mass.)
|April 23, 2004
Summary
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition affecting women, characterized by widespread pain and fatigue. Research suggests central pain processing abnormalities, indicating a neuropathic pain syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
Background:
- Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain condition predominantly affecting women.
- Characterized by widespread pain, insomnia, fatigue, and multiple tender points.
- Etiology remains unclear, with no consistent preceding factors like infections, trauma, or psychiatric issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of Medline database from 1965 to 2001.
Main Results:
- Evidence points to central pain processing abnormalities in FMS patients.
- These include hyperalgesia, allodynia, abnormal temporal summation, neuroendocrine dysfunction, and altered brain pain region activation.
- Findings suggest FMS is a neuropathic pain syndrome.
Conclusions:
- Fibromyalgia syndrome exhibits characteristics similar to other neuropathic pain conditions like complex regional pain syndrome and postherpetic neuralgia.
- Ineffective response to common analgesics is a shared trait.
- Abnormal findings strongly suggest a neuropathic basis for FMS.