Integrated Review of the Association of Cytokines With Fibromyalgia and Fibromyalgia Core Symptoms.

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Integrated Review of the Association of Cytokines With Fibromyalgia

and Fibromyalgia Core Symptoms.

 

Biol Res Nurs. 2009 Nov 22. [Epub ahead of print]

Menzies V, Lyon DE.

Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic widespread pain (CWP) and fatigue

syndrome that affects three to six million adults in the United States. Core

symptoms of FMS include pain, fatigue, and mood and sleep disturbances. To date,

consensus has not been reached among researchers regarding the pathogenesis of

FMS nor the specific role of cytokine activation on the neuroendocrine- immune

response patterns in persons with FMS. The purpose of this article is to

describe and synthesize the results of research studies focused on the

relationship between cytokines and FMS and among cytokines and core symptoms of

FMS. There is some support in the literature for relationships among FMS

symptoms and cytokines; however, there are discrepant findings related to

whether proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines are elevated or reduced

in persons with FMS and whether their levels correlate with the core symptoms of

this disorder. Although the use of cytokine biomarkers must be considered

exploratory at this time due to the lack of consistent empirical findings,

biobehavioral research focused on understanding the relationship of FMS with

cytokines may lead to a better understanding of this complex syndrome. This

knowledge may ultimately contribute to the development of interventions for

symptom management that address not only the symptom manifestation but also a

biological mediator of symptoms.

PMID: 19933683 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]