(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Fibromyalgia patients may finally have some answers
as to what causes their disease.
Researchers in France used single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to
detect functional abnormalities in certain regions in the brains of patients
with fibromyalgia. This reinforces the idea that symptoms of the disorder are
related to a dysfunction in the areas of the brain where pain is processed.
“Fibromyalgia is frequently considered an ‘invisible syndrome’ since
musculoskeletal imaging is negative,” lead author Eric Guedj, M.D., was quoted
as saying. “Past imaging studies of patients with the syndrome, however, have
shown above-normal cerebral blood flow (brain perfusion) in some areas of the
brain and below-normal in other areas. After performing whole-brain scans on the
participants, we used a statistical analysis to study the relationship between
functional activity in even the smallest area of the brain and various
parameters related to pain, disability and anxiety/depression.”
The study looked at 20 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia and 10 healthy women.
Participants answered questions as to their level of pain, disability, anxiety
and depression as well as had a SPECT screening.
Results show fibromyalgia patients had brain perfusion abnormalities compared to
the healthy women, and these abnormalities were directly correlated with the
severity of the disease. An increase in perfusion was found in that region of
the brain known to recognize pain intensity, and a decrease was found within
those areas thought to be involved in emotional responses to pain.
Fibromyalgia patients have widespread muscle pain, fatigue and multiple tender
points in specific places including the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. It is
one of the leading causes of musculoskeletal pain and disability, affecting
three to six million Americans - between 80 and 90 percent of those diagnosed is
women.
SOURCE: Journal of Nuclear Medicine, 2008
