Fibromyalgia Group Research Articles

Fear of COVID-19: reflections on disease severity, sleep and anxiety in fibromyalgia patients

Aim: This study aimed to assess the effects of COVID- 19 fear and anxiety on disease severity, pain, sleep quality and health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia patients.
 Material and Method: Sixty-four patients with diagnosis fibromyalgia and sixty-five healthy volunteers over 18 years of age were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic features were evaluated. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Short Form 36 (SF-36), Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS), Obsession with COVID-19 Scale(OCS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were administered to all participants.
 Results: The mean values of CAS, FIQ, PSQI, and BDI were found to be higher in the fibromyalgia group than the control group (p

Prevalence of post-COVID-19 in patients with fibromyalgia: a comparative study with other inflammatory and autoimmune rheumatic diseases

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and characteristics of post-COVID-19 (PC) in fibromyalgia (FM) patients.MethodsRetrospective, multi-centric, observational study, comparing a group of FM patients (FM group) with another group of patients with other rheumatic diseases (RD group). COVID-19 diagnosis was established by positive polymerase chain reaction or antigen during acute infection or by positive antibodies thereafter. We considered PC diagnosis when symptoms remain after COVID-19. We collected the principal characteristics of COVID-19, the severity of fatigue, waking unrefreshed and cognitive impairment, and persistent symptoms. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and the Combined Index of Severity in Fibromyalgia (ICAF) were collected in the FM group.ResultsRD group (n = 56) had more pneumonia (p = 0.001) and hospital admissions (p = 0.002), but the FM group (n = 78) had a higher number of symptoms (p = 0.002). The percentage of patients with PC was similar between groups (FM group 79.5%; RD group 66.1%, p = 0.081). FM group had more PC symptoms (p = 0.001), more impairment after COVID-19 (p = 0.002) and higher severity of fatigue, waking unrefreshed and cognitive impairment (p < 0.0001). Only loss of smell was more frequent in the FM group (p = 0.005). The FM group with PC (n = 29) showed more severity of the Combined Index of Severity in Fibromyalgia (ICAF) total score and physical factor after COVID-19, while emotional, coping factors and the ACR criteria did not change.ConclusionsThe prevalence of PC in FM patients is similar to RD patients. In FM patients, the presence of PC does not appear to impact the severity of FM.

Brain Structural Changes During Juvenile Fibromyalgia: Relationships With Pain, Fatigue, and Functional Disability.

ObjectiveJuvenile fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent chronic pain condition affecting children and adolescents worldwide during a critical period of brain development. To date, no published studies have addressed the pathophysiology of juvenile FM. This study was undertaken to characterize gray matter volume (GMV) alterations in juvenile FM patients for the first time, and to investigate their functional and clinical relevance.MethodsThirty‐four female adolescents with juvenile FM and 38 healthy adolescents underwent a structural magnetic resonance imaging examination and completed questionnaires assessing core juvenile FM symptoms. Using voxel‐based morphometry, we assessed between‐group GMV differences and associations between GMV and functional disability, fatigue, and pain interference in juvenile FM. We also studied whether validated brain patterns predicting pain, cognitive control, or negative emotion were amplified/attenuated in juvenile FM patients and whether structural alterations reported in adult FM were replicated in adolescents with juvenile FM.ResultsCompared to controls, juvenile FM patients showed GMV reductions in the anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC) region (family‐wise error corrected P [P FWE‐corr] = 0.04; estimated with threshold‐free cluster enhancement [TFCE]; n = 72) associated with pain. Within the juvenile FM group, patients reporting higher functional disability had larger GMV in inferior frontal regions (P FWE‐corr = 0.006; TFCE estimated; n = 34) linked to affective, self‐referential, and language‐related processes. Last, GMV reductions in juvenile FM showed partial overlap with findings in adult FM, specifically for the anterior/posterior cingulate cortices (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively; n = 72).ConclusionPain‐related aMCC reductions may be a structural hallmark of juvenile FM, whereas alterations in regions involved in emotional, self‐referential, and language‐related processes may predict disease impact on patients’ well‐being. The partial overlap between juvenile and adult FM findings strengthens the importance of early symptom identification and intervention to prevent the transition to adult forms of the disease.

Altered Pain in the Brainstem and Spinal Cord of Fibromyalgia Patients During the Anticipation and Experience of Experimental Pain.

Chronic pain associated with fibromyalgia (FM) affects a large portion of the population but the underlying mechanisms leading to this altered pain are still poorly understood. Evidence suggests that FM involves altered neural processes in the central nervous system and neuroimaging methods such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are used to reveal these underlying alterations. While many fMRI studies of FM have been conducted in the brain, recent evidence shows that the changes in pain processing in FM may be linked to autonomic and homeostatic dysregulation, thus requiring further investigation in the brainstem and spinal cord. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 15 women with FM and 15 healthy controls were obtained in the cervical spinal cord and brainstem at 3 tesla using previously established methods. In order to investigate differences in pain processing in these groups, participants underwent trials in which they anticipated and received a predictable painful stimulus, randomly interleaved with trials with no stimulus. Differences in functional connectivity between the groups were investigated by means of structural equation modeling. The results demonstrate significant differences in brainstem/spinal cord network connectivity between the FM and control groups which also correlated with individual differences in pain responses. The regions involved in these differences in connectivity included the LC, hypothalamus, PAG, and PBN, which are known to be associated with autonomic homeostatic regulation, including fight or flight responses. This study extends our understanding of altered neural processes associated with FM and the important link between sensory and autonomic regulation systems in this disorder.

Comparison of the serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) between fibromyalgia and nociceptive pain groups; and effect of duloxetine on the BDNF level

BackgroundThe primary objective was to compare the serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in the patients with two types of pain: fibromyalgia (FM) and non-FM nociceptive pain (non-FM NP). The secondary objective was to investigate the effect of duloxetine on serum BDNF in FM patients and assess the direction of BDNF changes’ relation to clinical parameters’ alterations.Methods: This is a study on 73 patients (50 FM and 23 non-FM chronic non-inflammatory pain patients). Serum BDNF was first compared between both groups. Patients with FM, then prospectively, underwent standardized FM treatment with duloxetine maximized to 60 mg/day. The Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), pain visualized analog scale (pain VAS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), polysymptomatic distress scale (PSD) and serum BDNF were measured and compared at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment in FM group.ResultsThe mean of adjusted BDNF level in the FM group had no significant difference than the non-FM NP group ((5293.5 ± 2676.3 vs. 6136.3 ± 4037.6; P value = 0.77). Using linear mixed model, we showed that duloxetine reduced BDNF level significantly in FM patients, even after adjusting for depression, pain and severity of the disease (P < 0.01). The FIQR, BDI-II, PSD, and pain VAS improved significantly after duloxetine treatment.ConclusionsNon-significant BDNF level difference between FM and non-FM nociceptive pain suggested that peripheral BDNF is not a pathophysiological feature of FM. The decreased BDNF level parallel with improvement of PSD/pain scores after duloxetine treatment indicates BDNF alteration in the pain modulation process, regardless of cause and effect.

Examining the Dynamic Relationship between Positive and Negative Emotions as a Function of Pain, Fatigue, and Stress in Individuals with and without Fibromyalgia

Affective disruptions, particularly deficits in positive affect, are characteristic of fibromyalgia (FM). The Dynamic Model of Affect (DMA), which posits that the inverse association between positive and negative emotions becomes stronger during episodes of high stress and pain, may help to explain this vulnerability. Evidence for the DMA has been found in individuals with FM, but our understanding of which types of stressors and emotional dimensions contribute to these affective dynamics is limited. In this study, we tested the assumptions of the DMA by examining whether pain, stress, and fatigue moderate the momentary association between positive and negative emotions and whether this moderating effect is different for individuals with versus without FM. One-hundred adults (n=50 with FM; n=50 without FM) completed ecological momentary assessments for pain, stress, fatigue, negative emotions (depression, anger, anxiety), and positive emotion (vigor) 5X/day for seven days using a smartphone application. Multilevel random effects modeling indicated that there was a stronger inverse association between vigor and depression during times of greater pain, stress, and fatigue. Similarly, there was a stronger inverse association between vigor and anger when stress and fatigue were high. For both depression and anger, these relationships were stronger in the FM group than the non-FM group. There were no differences in the anxiety-vigor association as a function of pain, stress, or fatigue. These findings are consistent with the DMA and suggest that individuals with FM show a pattern of stronger inverse associations between positive and negative emotions during times of pain, stress, and/or fatigue; however, this appears to be specific to only some types of negative emotions – anger and depression, but not anxiety. Findings also indicate that fluctuations in fatigue may be as or more important than fluctuations in pain in the emotional dynamics of individuals with FM. Grant support from NIH/NIAMS award #K01AR064275.

CNS imaging characteristics in fibromyalgia patients with and without peripheral nerve involvement

We tested the hypothesis that reduced skin innervation in fibromyalgia syndrome is associated with specific CNS changes. This prospective case–control study included 43 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome and 40 healthy controls. We further compared the fibromyalgia subgroups with reduced (n = 21) and normal (n = 22) skin innervation. Brains were analysed for cortical volume, for white matter integrity, and for functional connectivity. Compared to controls, cortical thickness was decreased in regions of the frontal, temporal and parietal cortex in the fibromyalgia group as a whole, and decreased in the bilateral pericalcarine cortices in the fibromyalgia subgroup with reduced skin innervation. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed a significant increase in fractional anisotropy in the corona radiata, the corpus callosum, cingulum and fornix in patients with fibromyalgia compared to healthy controls and decreased FA in parts of the internal capsule and thalamic radiation in the subgroup with reduced skin innervation. Using resting-state fMRI, the fibromyalgia group as a whole showed functional hypoconnectivity between the right midfrontal gyrus and the posterior cerebellum and the right crus cerebellum, respectively. The subgroup with reduced skin innervation showed hyperconnectivity between the inferior frontal gyrus, the angular gyrus and the posterior parietal gyrus. Our results suggest that the subgroup of fibromyalgia patients with pronounced pathology in the peripheral nervous system shows alterations in morphology, structural and functional connectivity also at the level of the encephalon. We propose considering these subgroups when conducting clinical trials.

Consistency between the 2016 ACR criteria and a previous diagnosis or hypothesis of fibromyalgia in a specialised referral clinic.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex syndrome whose hallmark features are chronic widespread pain, sleep disturbances, fatigue and cognitive dysfunctions. However, it is still difficult to apply validated diagnostic criteria. The aim of this study is to examine the accuracy of a previous diagnosis/diagnostic hypothesis of FM according to the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria. All of the patients newly referred to a private rheumatological clinic with the specific request for a consultation because if FM over an 18-month period were evaluated by means of a standardised protocol in order to determine whether they fulfilled the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria for FM. They were initially divided into three groups: those with a previous diagnosis of FM (group 1), those with a physician's diagnostic hypothesis of FM (group 2) and those who personally hypothesised FM (group 3). They were subsequently classified as having FM, IFM (borderline scores) or not having FM (non-FM) on the basis of the 2016 ACR diagnostic criteria. The study involved 216 patients (25 males and 191 females): 112 in group 1, 49 in group 2, and 55 in group 3. Only 89 patients (41.2%) fulfilled the ACR criteria; 42 (19.44%) met the study protocol-defined scores for IFM; and 85 (39.35%) were diagnosed as not having FM. Only 50% of the patients with a previous diagnosis of FM fulfilled the ACR criteria, and just under 25% did not have FM. Almost 50% of the patients with a physician's diagnostic hypotheses of FM did not have FM, whereas 20% of the patients who personally hypothesised FM fulfilled the ACR criteria. GP scores and TPCs were significantly different (FM > IFM, FM > non-FM, and IFM > non-FM) as were WPI, SSS and PSD scores for FM > IFM group. Rheumatologists made the previous diagnosis in 92.85% of patients, 53.84% of whom met the ACR criteria and about 20% did not have FM; and as many as 37.5% of the patients with a previous diagnosis made by a non-rheumatologist did not have FM. The non-FM patients were given 84 alternative diagnoses, 78.5% of which referred to rheumatic diseases. One hundred and thirty-one patients had 86 closely pain-related co-morbidities, 94.1% of which were rheumatic diseases. Our findings confirm the inaccuracy of FM diagnoses and highlights the possibility that in everyday clinical practice, they are not always made with reference to very specific criteria and that there is a high risk of classifying non-FM patients as having FM. They also underline the importance of an accurate differential diagnosis. Separately classifying as IFM those patients who do not meet the ACR criteria, but have clinical findings indicating FM, may help to prevent their exclusion from specific treatment(s).

Coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain all over the body, whose diagnosis and treatment are not fully understood. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease that causes apnea, hypopnea and oxygen desaturation due to collapse in the upper respiratory tract and is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue and lack of attention. Symptoms and signs of OSAS and fibromyalgia are similar. In our study, we aimed to compare the association of fibromyalgia in female OSAS patients in terms of polysomnography and laboratory parameters. We aimed to examine the association of fibromyalgia in patients with female OSAS. A total of 190 female OSAS patients were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of fibromyalgia: 88 (46.3%) patients in the fibromyalgia group and 102 (53.7%) patients in the control group. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used for the evaluation of demographic data, polysomnography parameters and laboratory tests of the patients, and values with p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Mean age of the patients was 52.1 ± 11.9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 35.1 ± 7.2. There was no difference between age and BMI (p= 0.971, p= 0.716, respectively). Periodic leg movements (PLMS) were higher in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.02). The desaturation index (CT90) was found to be high in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.043). The minimum SaO2 value was found to be low in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.022). Sleep latency was found to be higher in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.031). Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were found to be statistically significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.020, p= 0.027, respectively). Triglyceride level was found to be high in the fibromyalgia group (p= 0.043). We recommend clinical evaluation of female patients with fibromyalgia and we suggest polysomnography, especially in patients with excessive daytime sleepiness. Early diagnosis and treatment of concomitant OSAS will contribute to quality of fibromyalgia patients' life.

Health, Psychological and Demographic Predictors of Depression in People with Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis.

Depression is common in people with fibromyalgia (FM) and osteoarthritis (OA) and has been linked to adverse health outcomes in these conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in predictors of depression among individuals with FM and OA using a range of health, demographic, and psychological variables. Of the total 963 participants, 600 were diagnosed with FM, and 363 with OA. The Quality of Well-Being Scale (QWB) was used to assess health status. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale (AIMS) were used to measure disease-specific impact. Additionally, participants completed self-efficacy and helplessness assessments. Depression was measured using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Scale (CES-D). The results of a moderated linear regression showed that higher depression scores were associated with lower health status and a greater condition impact, especially in the FM group. Self-efficacy and helplessness predicted depression in both groups, but more strongly in FM. White participants with OA were more depressed than their non-White counterparts, while the opposite was true for FM. These findings indicate that improving health status and psychological well-being might alleviate depression in both FM and OA.

Sonographic measurement of the neck extensor muscle thickness in patients with fibromyalgia

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare cervical extensor muscle thickness measurements in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) with chronic neck pain and an asymptomatic control group, and to examine the relationship between cervical extensor muscle thickness and pain, quality of life, and disability. The study included 41 patients with FM and 41 asymptomatic control subjects. The thickness of the cervical extensor muscles (multifidus, semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis, splenius capitis and trapezius muscles) was evaluated with ultrasonography. The severity of FM was evaluated with the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), neck disability with the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and pain severity with a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The mean sonographic thickness values of all the neck extensor muscles were significantly decreased in the FM group compared with the control group (p<0.001). There were negative correlations between the FIQ and multifidus, splenius capitis and trapezius thickness values. NDI was significantly negatively correlated with multifidus and trapezius thickness. There was no significant correlation between neck extensor muscle thickness and age, duration of FM, and NRS scores. This study demonstrated a decrease in cervical extensor muscle thickness in patients with FM with chronic neck pain. Cervical extensor muscle morphologies should be considered by the clinician when planning treatment in patients with FM with neck pain.

Laser evoked potentials in fibromyalgia with peripheral small fiber involvement

ObjectiveTo evaluate multichannel laser evoked potentials (LEPs) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and small fiber impairment. MethodsWe recorded LEPs using 65 electrodes in 22 patients with FM and proximal denervation, 18 with normal skin biopsy, and 7 with proximal and distal intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) reduction. We considered the amplitude and topographical distribution of N1, N2 and P2 components, and habituation of N2 and P2 waves. The sLORETA dipolar analysis was also applied. We evaluated 15 healthy subjects as controls. ResultsWe observed reduced amplitude of the P2 component in FM group, without a topographic correspondence with the prevalent site of denervation. Decreased habituation of P2 prevailed in patients with reduced IENFD. The cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex, were activated in the FM group, without correlation between the degree of denervation and the strength of late wave dipoles. A correlation was noted between anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia invalidity, and pain diffusion. ConclusionsThe amplitude and topography of LEPs were not coherent with epidermal nerve fiber density loss. They supposedly reflected the clinical expression of pain and psychopathological factors. SignificanceMultichannel LEPs are not the expression of small fiber impairment in FM. Rather, they reflect the complexity of the disease.

Personality, Defense Mechanisms and Psychological Distress in Women with Fibromyalgia.

Background: Previous studies have shown that many personality traits are associated with fibromyalgia (FM), worsening both the quality of life and psychological distress of patients. Despite the high comorbidity of psychopathological disorders in this syndrome and their association with immature defense styles, few studies have examined the defense mechanisms used by FM patients. The main aim of our study was to investigate personality traits and defense mechanisms in FM patients compared to in a healthy control group (HC). Moreover, we investigated the effect of personality traits and defense mechanisms on psychological distress in both FM and HC groups. Methods: A total of 54 women with FM and 54 healthy women completed the (1) Temperament and Character Inventory—Revised; (2) the Toronto Alexithymia Scale; (3) the Defense Style Questionnaire; and (4) the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: The results indicated that FM patients display higher alexithymia, higher harm avoidance, lower self-directedness, lower persistence, and the higher use of a maladaptive defense style compared to HC. We found that alexithymia, harm avoidance, and maladaptive defense style are significant predictors of patients’ psychological distress. Moreover, harm avoidance and adaptive defense style significantly predicted psychological distress in the HC group. Conclusion: The present study is the first to explore the contribution of both defense mechanisms and personality characteristics on the psychological distress of FM patients. Our findings have important clinical implications and may help diagnose and treat FM patients more in depth.

Zinc in fibromyalgia patients: relationship with body mass index and sleep quality

Introduction and aim. Given the potential relationship between oxidative stress and fibromyalgia and well-documented antioxidant efficacy of zinc, the present study aimed to determine serum zinc concentration in FM patients as compared to healthy controls, as well as to identify the correlation of serum zinc concentration with the body mass index (BMI) and sleep quality, Material and methods. In this case-control study, 54 fibromyalgia patients were consecutively recruited between October 01, 2021 and December 01, 2021. The control group consisted of 54 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Results. Fibromyalgia group had significantly lower zinc concentration, higher body mass index, and lower sleep quality scores as compared to the healthy control group. The correlation analysis revealed a significantly negative correlation between serum zinc concentration and body mass index and a significantly positive correlation between serum zinc concentration and sleep quality both in fibromyalgia and healthy control groups. Conclusion. Our results both support the hypothesis that low serum zinc concentration plays a role in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and indicate that fibromyalgia may lead to weight gain and poor sleep quality, which needs to be confirmed in large-cohort studies.

Retina analysis with optical coherence tomography in patients with fibromyalgia

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the inner layers of the retina in patients with fibromyalgia (FM) compared to healthy subjects using a posterior pole protocol analysis in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the relationship of structural measures with quality of life.MethodsSeventy‐four eyes of healthy subjects and 55 eyes of FM patients were analyzed. FM group was divided into three subgroups depending on the phenotype of the disease (group 1, biologic phenotype; group 2, depressive phenotype; group 3, atypical phenotype). All of them were evaluated using Pole Posterior protocol of OCT Spectralis, which analyzes the thickness of the macular area divided into 64 cells. The thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and the ganglion cell layer (GCL) were evaluated. All patients completed the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ‐5D) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) to assess health‐related quality of life.ResultsThe FM patients presented a significant thinning of the RNFL in 17/64 cells and the GCL in 47/64 cells, compared with the control group. The depressive FM phenotype presented the highest number of cells significantly decreased compared to controls. A significant correlation was observed between the GCL and the EuroQol 5D questionnaire results in the lower temporal cells of the posterior pole grid.ConclusionsFM patients showed a loss of retinal ganglion cells and RNFL detectable by the Posterior Pole protocol of OCT. This is a safe, easy and fast test which provides very complete macular data to quantitatively and objectively assess the disease and its different phenotypes in this patients.

Traumatic experiences and somatoform dissociation in women with fibromyalgia.

Objective: Psychological factors like traumatic life events seem to affect the etiopathogenesis and the exacerbation of fibromyalgia (FM), a chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain syndrome. This Study investigated the prevalence of traumatic events, with a particular attention to the whole life span, and both psychoform and somatoform dissociation in patients with FM, compared with healthy controls (HC). In addition, the possible effects of traumatic events and dissociative experiences on FM symptoms have been analyzed. Method: Traumatic experiences, dissociative symptoms, and psychological distress were assessed in 99 consecutive patients with FM and 107 healthy women. Student t-tests for two independent samples were used to determine differences between the FM and HC groups. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to explore the possible contribution of trauma and dissociation to FM symptoms. Results: Results revealed that the levels of both somatoform and psychoform dissociation were higher among patients with FM than HC (p < .001). Moreover, patients with FM experienced significantly more negative life events than HC (p < .001). Finally, the data suggested that the severity of FM disabilities was significantly predicted by the presence of depressive symptoms, somatoform dissociation, cumulative trauma, and educational level. The final Model explained 40% of the variance. Conclusions: Results suggest that the construct of somatoform dissociation could serve as a useful framework to improve our understanding of FM symptoms, and stressed the importance of evaluating the effects of multiple traumas in cumulative form because this has substantial implications for the evaluation and treatment of patients. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Retinal nerve fiber layer and optical coherence tomography angiography analysis in fibromyalgia using logistic regression

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) and the vascular density (VD) at the superficial vascular plexus (SVP) of the retina of patients with Fibromyalgia (FM) using Optical coherence tomography‐Angiography (OCT‐A) and to compare results with measurements of healthy eyes.MethodsFifty eyes of 50 patients with FM were included and compared with 232 healthy eyes. All subjects underwent peripapillary and macular RNFL thickness evaluation and macular SVP VD assessment using swept source OCT Triton and its OCTA module (Topcon, Japan). Both groups were compared, and the statistically significant different variables were used to create a logistic regression model. A Linear Discriminant Function (LDF) and its receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was obtained from the model.ResultsStatistically significant thinning was found at the peripapillary (temporal, p = 0.006; and supero‐temporal, p = 0.026) and macular (inferior, p = 0.029) RNFL thickness in the FM group compared to healthy controls. The best resultant LDF after logistic regression analysis was (Triton: −9.102 + (0.434 * RNFL macular inferior) + (0.088 * peripapillary RNFL nasal sector) – (0.220 * peripapillary RNFL temporal sector) showing a ROC curve with an area under curve (AUC) equal to 0.758. On the other hand, the SVP VD obtained with OCT‐A showed no statistically significant differences between groups in any of the analyzed areas (central p = 0.788; nasal p = 0.165; inferior p = 0.073; temporal p = 0.250; superior p = 0.538) so the data were not included in the regression analysisConclusionsFM patients present a reduction in the RNFL thickness compared to controls. The RNFL measurements might be a useful biomarker in the diagnosis of FM, complementing the current criteria based on clinical symptoms. However, it is necessary to explore the different imaging protocols to include them into a more robust statistical model.

Evaluation of Endothelial Dysfunction and Autophagy in Fibromyalgia-Related Vascular and Cerebral Cortical Changes and the Ameliorative Effect of Fisetin.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic pain syndrome that affects 1% to 5% of the population. We aimed to investigate the role of endothelial dysfunction and autophagy in fibromyalgia-related vascular and cerebral cortical changes in a reserpine-induced rat model of fibromyalgia at the histological and molecular levels and to study the ameliorative effect of fisetin. Forty adult female albino rats were divided into four groups (10 each): two control groups, the reserpine-induced fibromyalgia group, and the fisetin-treated group. The carotid arteries and brains of the animals were dissected. Frozen tissue samples were used for total RNA extraction and qPCR analysis of eNOS, caspase-3, Bcl-2, LC-3, BECN-1, CHOP, and TNF-α expression. Histological, immunohistochemical (eNOS), and ultrastructure studies were conducted. The carotid arteries revealed excessive autophagy and endothelial, vascular, and apoptotic changes. The cerebral cortex showed similar findings apart from endoplasmic reticulum stress. Additionally, there was decreased gene expression of eNOS and Bcl-2 and increased expression of caspase-3, LC-3, BECN-1, CHOP, and TNF-α. In the fisetin-treated rats, improvements in the histological and molecular results were detected. In conclusion, oxidative stress, enhanced apoptosis, and excessive autophagy are fundamental pathophysiologic mechanisms of reserpine-induced fibromyalgia. Moreover, fisetin has an ameliorative effect against fibromyalgia.

Relationship between pineal gland, sleep and melatonin in fibromyalgia women: a magnetic resonance imaging study.

A total of 80% of fibromyalgia (FM) population have reported poor sleep. In this regard, the pineal gland, involved in circadian rhythm processes as a key neuroendocrine organ which mainly synthesises and secretes melatonin, has never been studied before in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the parenchyma pineal volume and its relation to sleep hours, sleep quality index and melatonin level at night. A total of 50 participants, 30 women with FM and 20 healthy control women underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging. The total pineal volume, cyst pineal volume and parenchyma pineal volume were manually calculated in cubic millimetres. Also, the total pineal volume was estimated using Hasehawa method. Parenchyma pineal volume was significantly correlated with sleep hours (p-value = 0.041) and nocturnal melatonin level (p-value = 0.027). Moreover, there was also a non-significant correlation between parenchyma pineal volume and sleep quality index (p-value = 0.055). Furthermore, a mean parenchyma pineal volume of 102.00 (41.46) mm³ was observed, with a prevalence of 29.60% cyst in FM group. This is the first study that has reported pineal gland volumes, cyst prevalence and correlative relationships between parenchyma pineal volume and sleep hours and melatonin levels in women with FM.

Structural and functional thalamocortical connectivity study in female fibromyalgia

Dysfunctional thalamocortical interactions have been suggested as putative mechanisms of ineffective pain modulation and also suggested as possible pathophysiology of fibromyalgia (FM). However, it remains unclear which specific thalamocortical networks are altered and whether it is related to abnormal pain perception in people with FM. Here, we conducted combined vertex-wise subcortical shape, cortical thickness, structural covariance, and resting-state functional connectivity analyses to address these questions. FM group exhibited a regional shape deflation of the left posterior thalamus encompassing the ventral posterior lateral and pulvinar nuclei. The structural covariance analysis showed that the extent of regional deflation of the left posterior thalamus was negatively covaried with the left inferior parietal cortical thickness in the FM group, whereas those two regions were positively covaried in the healthy controls. In functional connectivity analysis with the left posterior thalamus as a seed, FM group had less connectivity with the periaqueductal gray compared with healthy controls, but enhanced connectivity between the posterior thalamus and bilateral inferior parietal regions, associated with a lower electrical pain threshold at the hand dorsum (pain-free point). Overall, our findings showed the structural thalamic alteration interacts with the cortical regions in a functionally maladaptive direction, leading the FM brain more responsive to external stimuli and potentially contributing to pain amplification.