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Chronic Inflammation: Introduction

Chronic inflammation is a prolonged, dysregulated immune response that persists for weeks to years when the inciting stimulus is difficult to eradicate or when self‑antigens drive ongoing reactivity. Morphologically, it is defined by mononuclear cell infiltration, progressive tissue destruction, and concurrent attempts at healing via angiogenesis and fibrosis. Compared with acute inflammation, edema is less prominent while cellular infiltration predominates; triggers include persistent...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
08:33

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers

Published on: January 5, 2024

Complex adaptive systems allostasis in fibromyalgia.

Manuel Martinez-Lavin1, Angelica Vargas

  • 1Rheumatology Department, National Cardiology Institute, Mexico City, Mexico. mmlavin@terra.com.mx

Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America
|August 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Fibromyalgia (FM) involves autonomic nervous system dysfunction, not fully explained by traditional models. Complexity theory offers insights into FM

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers
08:33

A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial of Cranial Electrical Stimulation for Fibromyalgia Pain and Physical Function, Using Brain Imaging Biomarkers

Published on: January 5, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Systems Biology
  • Complexity Theory

Background:

  • Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex condition often misunderstood by linear-reductionist medical approaches.
  • The autonomic nervous system's role in FM requires a paradigm shift beyond traditional models.
  • Complexity theory offers a novel framework for understanding FM's pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To re-conceptualize Fibromyalgia (FM) through the lens of complex adaptive systems.
  • To explore the autonomic nervous system's dysregulation in FM using complexity theory.
  • To propose a holistic therapeutic approach for FM based on systems theory.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis integrating complexity theory and autonomic nervous system function.
  • Review of existing literature on sympathetic hyperactivity, allostasis, and allostatic load in FM.
  • Examination of preliminary genetic evidence for dysautonomia in FM.

Main Results:

  • Fibromyalgia (FM) may represent a failure of the autonomic nervous system to adapt to environmental stressors.
  • Sympathetic hyperactivity and hyporeactivity in FM can be interpreted as signs of allostasis and allostatic load.
  • Autonomic dysfunction potentially explains both pain and non-pain symptoms in FM.
  • Dorsal root ganglia are implicated as sympathetic-nociceptive short-circuit sites.

Conclusions:

  • A complexity theory-based model provides a more comprehensive understanding of Fibromyalgia (FM) than linear-reductionist approaches.
  • Autonomic nervous system dysregulation is central to the pathophysiology of FM.
  • A holistic, systems-based therapy may help harmonize the complex systems involved in FM, potentially improving symptoms.