Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is defined as "A common nonarticular rheumatic syndrome characterized by myalgia and multiple points of focal muscle tenderness to palpation (trigger points). Muscle pain is typically aggravated by inactivity or exposure to cold. This condition is often associated with general symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, headaches, and occasionally depression. There is significant overlap between fibromyalgia and the chronic fatigue syndrome (fatigue syndrome, chronic). Fibromyalgia may arise as a primary or secondary disease process. It is most frequent in females aged 20 to 50 years. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1494-95)".[1]
Etiology/causation
The cause is not clear; however, "patients with fibromyalgia experience pain differently from the general population".[2]
Genetics
Using self-report of "Chronic Widespread Pain" (CWP) as a surrogate marker for fibromyalgia, the Swedish Twin Registry suggests a modest genetic contribution:[3][4]
- Monozygotic twins with CWP have a 15% chance that their twin sibling has CWP
- Dizygotic twins with CWP have a 7% chance that their twin sibling has CWP
Abnormal sleep
Fibromyalgia is associated with alpha sleep.[5] However, it is unclear if this abnormal sleep pattern causes or follows fibromyalgia.
References
- ↑ National Library of Medicine. Fibromyalgia. Retrieved on 2007-11-13.
- ↑ Abeles AM, Pillinger MH, Solitar BM, Abeles M (2007). "Narrative review: the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia". Ann. Intern. Med. 146 (10): 726–34. PMID 17502633. [e]
- ↑ Kato K, Sullivan P, Evengård B, Pedersen N (2006). "Importance of genetic influences on chronic widespread pain". Arthritis Rheum. 54 (5): 1682-6. DOI:10.1002/art.21798. PMID 16646040. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Kato K, Sullivan P, Evengård B, Pedersen N (2006). "Chronic widespread pain and its comorbidities: a population-based study". Arch. Intern. Med. 166 (15): 1649-54. PMID 16908799.
- ↑ Roizenblatt S, Moldofsky H, Benedito-Silva AA, Tufik S (2001). "Alpha sleep characteristics in fibromyalgia". Arthritis Rheum. 44 (1): 222–30. DOI:<222::AID-ANR29>3.0.CO;2-K 10.1002/1529-0131(200101)44:1<222::AID-ANR29>3.0.CO;2-K. PMID 11212164. <222::AID-ANR29>3.0.CO;2-K Research Blogging.