RESEARCH - Fibromyalgia a real disease

November 3, 2008

Fibromyalgia a 'Real Disease,' Study Shows

Researchers Say People With Fibromyalgia Have Abnormalities of Blood

Flow in the Brain

By Caroline Wilbert

WebMD Health NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDNov. 3, 2008

A new brain scan study concludes that fibromyalgia is related to

abnormalities of blood flow in the brain.

" Fibromyalgia may be related to a global dysfunction of cerebral

pain-processing, " study author Guedj, MD, of Centre

Hospitalo-Universitaire de la Timone, in Marseille, France, says in a

news release. " This study demonstrates that these patients exhibit

modifications of brain perfusion not found in healthy subjects and

reinforces the idea that fibromyalgia is a 'real disease/disorder.' "

Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread muscle

pain and fatigue. It affects 2%-4% of people, mostly women. It has

been called the " invisible syndrome " because it can't be diagnosed

based on a lab test or X-ray.

For this study, researchers took brain scans on 20 women with

fibromyalgia and 10 women without the condition. Participants also

answered questions to assess measures of pain, disability, anxiety,

and depression.

The brain imaging technique, called single photon emission computed

tomography (SPECT), is able to detect functional abnormalities in the

brain.

Past imaging studies of patients with fibromyalgia had shown

abnormalities in cerebral blood flow, also called brain perfusion. In

some areas of the brain, blood flow was below normal, and in some

areas, it was above normal. In this study, by using whole-brain scans

on the participants, researchers were able to analyze how perfusion in

each area of the brain related to measures of pain, disability,

anxiety, and depression.

Researchers confirmed that patients with fibromyalgia exhibited brain

perfusion abnormalities in comparison to the healthy participants.

These abnormalities corresponded with the severity of the disease. An

increase in blood flow was found in areas of the brain involved in

sensing pain and a decrease was found within an area thought to be

involved in emotional responses to pain.

There seemed to be no relationship between these abnormalities and

presence of depression or anxiety. " We found that these functional

abnormalities were independent of anxiety and depression status, "

Guedj says in a news release.

http://www.webmd.com/fibromyalgia/news/20081103/fibromyalgia-a-real-disease-stud\

y-shows

Not an MD

November 4, 2008

and group;

Oh wow, they may find a test now for fibro. I understood every word of

this. (well almost) I have had fibro since I was in my twenty's I'm sure.

Every time I went to the doctors for pain somewhere nothing on the xrays even

MRI. I was perplexed why I had such pain and nothing on the test. I had to

work like this. Not that I had to work in pain but work not knowing why I was

in pain.

One doctor said it was all in my mind. haaaaaaaa. I hope they find a test for

these people. Sometimes its even hard to find RA I know from being here.

I didn't even like reading these post but now I have a new out look on them.

And fibro fog is so real. God bless you

Gentle hugs

Clora May

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From: <Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...>

Subject: [ ] RESEARCH - Fibromyalgia a " real disease "

" " < >

Date: Monday, November 3, 2008, 10:49 PM