Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain associated with sleep problems, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. The persistence of pain, impairment of cognitive function, and negative impact on the psychological state have ...

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience - Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain, is frequently accompanied by emotional disturbances. Here we aimed to study...

Objective In patients with fibromyalgia (FM), the brain shows altered structure and functional connectivity, but the mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear. This study investigated the associated changes in brain microstructures and neuroinflammation of patients with FM. Methods We recruited 14 patients with FM and 14 healthy controls (HCs). Visual analog scale (VAS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) were used for assessing their pain, anxiety, and depression levels, respectively. Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) was used to visualize microstructural alterations associated with neuroinflammation in specific brain regions. The biomarkers for neuron damage, including serum tau and amyloid β protein fragment 1-42 (Aβ1-42) levels, were assessed. Spearman correlation of DKI parameters with VAS, BAI, and BDI-II scores as well as tau and Aβ1-42 levels were assessed. Results The patients with FM had significantly higher levels of Aβ1-42 levels than HCs. Compared with HCs, the patients with FM showed significantly lower DKI parameters in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and orbitofrontal cortex. Patients with FM showed a significant correlation between the axial kurtosis values of the amygdala and VAS scores (left: ρ = −0.60, P = 0.02; right: ρ = −7.04, P = 0.005). Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to use DKI to examine the brains of patients with FM. We noted significant DKI changes associated with neuroinflammation at specific areas in patients with FM. Our results provide valuable information on brain neuroinflammation and pathophysiological changes in patients with FM.

Get to know about the associated changes in neuroinflammation and brain microstructures of patients with fibromyalgia (FM).

Despite different techniques, equipment, and statistical criteria, neuroimaging studies have been considerably consistent in the identification of brain regions involved in various pain related processes. Functional neuroimaging studies regularly identify activation differences in a stable set of brain regions between pain and control populations. Recent structural studies have reported similar gray matter abnormalities among multiple chronic pain populations. Yet, the findings from structural and functional imaging studies are not completely unified.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain concomitant with psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression. It has been reported that FM patients engage in pain catastrophizing. In this study, we investigated characteristics of the brain volume of female FM patients and the association between psychological indices and brain volume. Thirty-nine female FM patients and 25 female healthy controls (HCs) were recruited for the study, and five FM patients were excluded due to white matter lesions. The following analyses were performed: (1) T1-weighted MRI were acquired for 34 FM patients (age 41.6 ± 7.4) and 25 HCs (age 39.5 ± 7.4). SPM12 was used to compare their gray and white matter volumes. (2) Data from anxiety and depression questionnaires (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (subscales rumination, helplessness, magnification), and MRI were acquired for 34 FM patients (age 41.6 ± 7.4). Correlation analysis was done of the psychological indices and brain volume. We found that (1) The white matter volume of the temporal pole was larger in the FM patient group than in the HC group. (2) Correlation analysis of the psychological indices and gray matter volume showed a negative correlation between trait anxiety and the amygdala. For the white matter volume, positive correlations were found between depression and the brainstem and between magnification and the postcentral gyrus. Changes in the brain volume of female FM patients may be related to anxiety, depression, and pain catastrophizing.

Altered brain morphometry has been widely acknowledged in chronic pain, and recent studies have implicated altered network dynamics, as opposed to pro…

Fibromyalgia is an intractable widespread pain disorder that is most frequently diagnosed in women. It has traditionally been classified as either a musculoskeletal disease or a psychological disorder. Accumulating evidence now suggests that fibromyalgia ...

Fibromyalgia syndrome is a chronic pain disorder characterised by widespread pain and tenderness in muscles and deep tissues. Current theories regarding the pathophysiological origins of fibromyalgia syndrome point towards central sensitisation and a ...

Fibromyalgia is a common chronic pain condition that exerts a considerable impact on patients' daily activities and quality of life.Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate kinematic parameters of gait, functional performance, ...

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Peripheral mechanisms, i.e., altered muscle fiber size distribution and decreased capillary density, may contribute to postexertional fatigue in FM. Understanding of these defects in fibromyalgic muscle may provide valuable insight with regard to treatment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the interstitial concentrations of pyruvate, lactate...

Exercise is highly recommended as an adjunct therapy in fibromyalgia. We’re not talking about pounding the pavement, however. A 2010 review of exercise studies found that ‘slight to moderate’ intensity aerobic exercise sessions done two to three times a week worked best, and that appropriate levels of exercise result in improved […]

Evening primrose oil (EPO) is widely used as a dietary supplement from which beneficial effects have been reported in rheumatic and arthritic conditio…

Ashok Gupta's Amygdala and Insula Retraining Program significantly improves symptoms in fibromyalgia and is more effective than relaxation therapy.

Although chronic widespread pain is the defining feature of fibromyalgia, a myriad of other conditions may present with similar pain complaint leading to misdiagnosis. Conditions that may mimic fibromyalgia may be categorized as musculoskeletal, neurological, ...