The fibromyalgia family study: a genome-wide linkage scan study

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Rheumatology
• Medical Genomics

Background:

• Familial aggregation of fibromyalgia suggests a genetic basis for the condition.
• Previous research has increasingly recognized the hereditary component of fibromyalgia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a genome-wide linkage scan to identify susceptibility loci for fibromyalgia.
• To investigate the genetic underpinnings of fibromyalgia in affected families.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a genome-wide linkage scan on 116 families from the Fibromyalgia Family Study.
• Employed model-free linkage analysis with 341 microsatellite markers and the Haseman-Elston regression approach.

Main Results:

• Observed a high sibling recurrence risk ratio (λs) of 13.6 for fibromyalgia.
• Identified genome-wide suggestive linkage on chromosome 17p11.2-q11.2 at markers D17S2196 and D17S1294.

Conclusions:

• The findings strongly suggest a significant genetic contribution to fibromyalgia.
• This study is the first to report genome-wide suggestive linkage to the 17p11.2-q11.2 region for fibromyalgia.
• Further investigation in multicase families is recommended to pinpoint causal risk variants.