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Pathologic changes in muscle in primary fibromyalgia syndrome.
The American Journal of Medicine
|September 29, 1986
Summary
Primary fibromyalgia syndrome, a rheumatic condition causing widespread pain, shows no inflammation in muscle biopsies. However, electron microscopy reveals significant muscle fiber damage, including lysis and abnormal mitochondria.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Muscle Pathology
Background:
- Primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) is a nonarticular rheumatic condition characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain and stiffness.
- It is often misnamed fibrositis, but muscle biopsies show no inflammatory signs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural muscle changes in patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome.
Main Methods:
- Muscle biopsies from 12 PFS patients without trauma history were analyzed.
- Light microscopy, histochemical analysis, and electron microscopy were employed.
Main Results:
- Light microscopy showed no inflammation.
- Histochemistry revealed type II fiber atrophy and "moth-eaten" type I fibers.
- Electron microscopy demonstrated myofibrillar lysis, glycogen/mitochondrial accumulation, and sarcolemmal abnormalities in all patients.
Conclusions:
- Primary fibromyalgia syndrome exhibits significant muscle fiber pathology, not inflammation.
- These changes may result from subclinical muscle injury, potentially due to muscle spasms.