Reading
Room: Fibromyalgia
Index
of Co-Cure Pages
Reading
Room: Fibromyalgia This page is provided as a resource of reading materials on FM that have been published on the internet. This includes links to documents, book reviews, editorials, and abstracts. If you would like us to add a link to another site or reprint articles at this site, please contact us through our on-line form or by sending an email message to co-cure-mod@listserv.nodak.edu.
Selected articles that were posted to the Co-Cure list have been reprinted on the Articles and Posts page.
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) - Questions and Answers About Fibromyalgia.
"Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread
musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. 'Tender
points' refers to tenderness that occurs in precise, localized
areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips. People
with this syndrome may also experience sleep disturbances, morning
stiffness, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, and other symptoms."
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Illness and Your Job: An Introduction
By Michele Bloomquist
WebMD ColumnistWhen you are diagnosed with a chronic illness every aspect of your life is affected - your health, your relationships, your activities. One area often hit hard is your job. Suddenly the health plan handbook that you barely skimmed when you were hired becomes the one of most important books in your life. How to deal with the blow illness brings to your work life will be the subject of this monthly column.
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http://www.afsafund.org/research.htm
http://www.isr.umich.edu/rcgd/parklab/research/fm.html
Leslie J. Crofford, M.D.
Research Team
Overview of Research
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a rheumatic disorder characterized by the presence of
widespread musculoskeletal pain and the presence of tender points. Other
symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbance, and neuropsychological
complaints contribute significantly to the morbidity associated with FM. One of
the most prominent complaints in patients with FM is impaired cognitive ability.
The notion that cognitive deficits are fundamental to FM has some credibility,
as there is growing evidence that there are subtle but important cognitive
deficits associated with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), a related disorder,
that cannot be explained by psychiatric symptoms (e.g. depression). It is
possible that cognitive defects in FM patients could result from single or
multiple central nervous system perturbations associated with FM.
Present Research
In this research, we will correlate cognitive function of FM patients with
measures of neuroendocrine function. A basic thesis advanced is that FM patients
may have both cognitive and neuroendocrine function similar to that of control
subjects who are 20 to 30 years older. Indeed, cognitive testing in patients
with CFS reveals changes similar to those seen in subjects of advanced
chronological age. In two experiments, FM patients will be compared to age and
education matched controls, as well as to education matched older adults.
Neuroendocrine function will be measured as well, as will depression, pain,
fatigue, and beliefs about memory function. This approach permits us to
determine whether there are differences in cognitive function of fibromyalgia
patients from others, and whether cognitive aging is a good model for
understanding the cognitive effects of FM. In addition, and perhaps more
importantly, the integration of a cognitive approach with a neuroendocrine
approach will allow us to determine what mechanisms account for the cognitive
differences - neurochemical, psychiatric, or experienced pain and fatigue.
Knowing the mechanisms underlying observed cognitive deficits has important
implications for treatment of the disorder as well as for understanding its
etiology.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Entrez/query?uid=10405946&form=6&db=m&Dopt=b
Special FMS Issue of Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie
Article abstracts can be read in either English or German.
Substance P, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and tryptophan in FMS
The authors discuss their findings that there is systemic involvement
of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and substance P in fibromylagia.
London (Ontario, Canada) Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study
Arthritis Rheum 1999 Jan;42(1):76-83
This study concludes that "FMS commonly results in loss of function and work disability."
Increased 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion: FMS vs. PTSD
The authors used 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion to
assess changes in the baseline activity of the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with
FMS, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. They
found increased 24-h UC excretion in patients with PTSD
comparable to that in patients with major depression,
whereas in fibromyalgia no significant changes in 24-h UC
were found.
"Elevated levels of hyaluronic acid in the sera of women with fibromyalgia."
"Fibromyalgia in hepatitis C virus infection. Another infectious disease relationship."
"Influenza A Virus: A Possible Precipitating Factor in Fibromyalgia?"
"Fibromyalgia and Myofacial pain"
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain, A.L Shaw, M.D.
"Fibromyalgia: The Muscle Pain Epidemic - Is it ME by Another Name?"
Leon Chaitow N.D., D.O., MRO, Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster.
Research Initiatives of The American Fibromyalgia Syndrome Association, Inc.
Aging, Cognition and Fibromyalgia
Investigators
Denise C. Park, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Senior Research Scientist
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan.
Jennifer M. Glass, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Alcohol Research Center and Institute for Social Research, University of
Michigan
The authors measured the concentrations of nerve growth factor (NGF)
in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of "patients with primary
fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), fibromyalgia associated with other
secondary conditions (SFM), patients with other painful conditions but
lacking fibromyalgia (OTHER), and healthy controls." They found
that the mean concentration of NGF measured in patients with FM was
significantly increased (41.8 12.7 pg/ml) compared to controls (9.1
4.1 pg/ml), but with large variability. The other groups of patients
did not have elevated levels compared to controls, suggesting that "a
central mechanism, involving abnormalities in neuropeptides such as
NGF, may be a factor in the pathogenesis of FM."
Increased concentrations of nerve growth factor in cerebrospinal fluid
of patients with fibromyalgia.
Authors: Giovengo SL, Russell IJ, Larson AA
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Minnesota, St.
Paul 55108, USA.
Journal of Rheumatology 1999 Jul;26(7):1564-9
NLM citations: PMID: 10405946, UI: 99334418
A study of non-institutionalized adults in London, Ontario found that
FM is a common musculoskeletal disorder among Canadian adults,
especially among women and persons of lower socioeconomic status.
Female sex, middle age, less education, lower household income, being
divorced, and being disabled were found to be associated with
increased odds of having FM.
The London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study: the prevalence of
fibromyalgia syndrome in London, Ontario.
Authors: White KP, Speechley M, Harth M, Ostbye T
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
kevin.white@lhsc.on.ca
Journal of Rheumatology 1999 Jul;26(7):1570-6
NLM citations: PMID: 10405947, UI: 99334419
The authors found that in the general population, adults who meet the
1990 American College of Rheumatology definition of FM appear to have
distinct features compared to those with chronic widespread pain who
do not meet criteria.
The London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study: comparing the demographic
and clinical characteristics in 100 random community cases of
fibromyalgia versus controls.
Authors: White KP, Speechley M, Harth M, Ostbye T
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
kevin.white@lhsc.on.ca
Journal of Rheumatology 1999 Jul;26(7):1577-85
NLM citations: PMID: 10405948, UI: 99334420
The authors attempted to determine whether disrupted slow wave sleep
(SWS) would evoke musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and an alpha
electroencephalograph (EEG) sleep pattern and concluded that disrupted
sleep is probably an important factor in the pathophysiology of
symptoms in fibromyalgia.
Effects of selective slow wave sleep disruption on musculoskeletal
pain and fatigue in middle aged women.
Authors: Lentz MJ, Landis CA, Rothermel J, Shaver JL
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of
Washington, Seattle 98195-7266, USA.
Journal of Rheumatology 1999 Jul;26(7):1586-92
NLM citations: PMID: 10405949, UI: 99334421
A survey of outcome measurement procedures in routine rheumatology
outpatient practice in Australia.
Authors: Bellamy N, Muirden KD, Brooks PM, Barraclough D, Tellus MM,
Campbell J
Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Journal of Rheumatology 1999 Jul;26(7):1593-9
NLM citations: PMID: 10405950, UI: 99334422
The German rheumatology journal "Zeitschrift fur Rheumatologie" has
released a special supplement comprised of articles concerning
fibromyalgia: 1998, Volume 57, Supplement 2.
Relationship of substance P, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid and
tryptophan in serum of fibromyalgia patients.
Schwarz MJ, Spath M, Muller-Bardorff H, Pongratz DE, Bondy B,
Ackenheil M
Psychiatric Hospital, University of Munich, Germany.
E-Mail: mschwarz@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
NLM citations: PMID: 10025591, UI: 99148458
Neurosci Lett 1999 Jan 15;259(3):196-8
Comparing self-reported function and work disability in 100 community cases of fibromyalgia syndrome versus controls in London, Ontario: the London Fibromyalgia Epidemiology Study.
White KP, Speechley M, Harth M, Ostbye T
University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
Increased 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion in patients
with post-traumatic stress disorder and patients with major
depression, but not in patients with fibromyalgia.
Maes M, Lin A, Bonaccorso S, van Hunsel F, Van Gastel A,
Delmeire L, Biondi M, Bosmans E, Kenis G, Scharpe S
Clinical Research Center for Mental Health, Antwerp,
Belgium.
Acta Psychiatr Scand 1998 Oct;98(4):328-35
NLM citations: PMID: 9821456, UI: 99038897
J Rheumatol
1997 Nov;24(11):2221-2224 Yaron I, Buskila D, Shirazi I,
Neumann L, Elkayam O, Paran D, Yaron M
CONCLUSION: HA serum levels
in women with FM were significantly elevated compared to healthy
controls and patients with RA. This observation suggests that
FM is associated with a biochemical abnormality and that serum
HA could be a laboratory marker for its diagnosis.
Arch Intern Med 1997 Nov 24;157(21):2497-2500
Buskila D, Shnaider A, Neumann L, Zilberman D, Hilzenrat N, Sikuler ECONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of FS was observed in patients infected with HCV, especially women. Recognizing FS in patients with HCV will prevent misinterpretation of FS symptoms as part of the liver disease and will enable the physician to reassure the patient about these symptoms and to alleviate them.
Allen N. Tyler, M.D., N.D., D.C.
"In marked contrast to the time it has taken for research
into ME and CFS to emerge there has over the past few years been
an explosion in the medical literature featuring Fibromyalgia
Syndrome (FMS)."
"The more the condition has been researched (FMS that is)
the more obvious it has become that there is a vast overlap between
it and ME/CFS."
"Both CFS(ME) and FMS often seem to begin after an infection
or a severe trauma (physical or emotional) , and as indicated
above the symptoms are very similar. The only obvious difference
seems to be that for some people the fatigue element is the most
dominant while for others the muscular pain symptoms are greatest
(and for an unfortunate few both are markedly present)."
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"Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Autoimmune Thyroid Disease".
The Mining Company.
Also see Miscellaneous Articles
for other Thyroid Disease articles.
"While HAIT is known to be an autoimmune illness, researchers are beginning to believe that there is a strong autoimmune component to CFS and FMS as well. Ultimately, the three diseases may, in fact, be found to be varying manifestations of the same underlying autoimmune problems."
Fibromyalgia: Ten Strategies for Maintaining a Positive Attitude
by Deborah A. Barrett, Ph.D., with links to other essays by the same author.
"Patient Information - Fibromyalgia" American College of Rheumatology
"A Physician's Guide to Fibromyalgia Syndrome" by David A. Nye MD.
The British Journal of Rheumatology.
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International Fibromyalgia Conference, May 19-21, 2000, Los Angeles
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