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. 2009 Oct 14;11(5):242. doi: 10.1186/ar2720

Developments in the scientific and clinical understanding of fibromyalgia

Dan Buskila 1,✉
PMCID: PMC2787255  PMID: 19835639

Abstract

Our understanding of fibromyalgia (FM) has made significant advances over the past decade. The current concept views FM as the result of central nervous system malfunction resulting in amplification of pain transmission and interpretation. Research done over the past years has demonstrated a role for polymorphisms of genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems in the etiopathogenesis of FM. Various external stimuli such as infection, trauma and stress may contribute to the development of the syndrome. The management of FM requires an integrated approach combining pharmacological and nonpharmacological modalities. The recent Food and Drugs Administration approval of pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran as medications for FM may herald a new era for the development of medications with higher specificity and efficacy for the condition. As our understanding of the biological basis and the genetic underpinning of FM increases, we hope to gain a better understanding of the true nature of the disorder, to better classify patients and to attain more rational therapeutic modalities.

Introduction

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain and diffuse tenderness, along with symptoms of fatigue, nonrestorative sleep and cognitive difficulties. Although coined as a nosological entity only some two and a half decades ago, and adorned official American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria only in 1990 [1], patients suffering from syndromes such as fibrositis and soft tissue rheumatism have been described in the medical literature for over a century [2]. The 1990 ACR criteria for classification of FM formed a framework for a plethora of research and publications focused on FM over this period. Indeed, entering the term 'fibromyalgia' as a Medline search for the years 1990 to 2008 currently yields 4,271 results.

Significant progress has occurred over recent years regarding our understanding of the mechanisms underlying altered pain processing characteristic of FM, and this evolution of knowledge is leading towards novel strategies for management of FM pain [3]. Increasing evidence supports a genetic predisposition to FM and supports the fact that environmental factors may trigger the development of FM, in genetically predisposed individuals [4-6]. There is also a continued effort to search for biomarkers to be used to identify individuals susceptible to FM, for the diagnosis of FM and for objective measures of disease activity [7].

An effort has also been made to better classify FM patients, to identify subgroups with unique clinical characteristics and to pinpoint therapeutic interventions. The recent Food and Drugs Administration approval of pregabalin, duloxetine and milnacipran as specific medications for FM may herald a new era for the development of medications with higher specificity and efficacy for this condition. The aim of the present article is to review the current developments in the scientific and clinical understanding of FM and progress in the management of FM.

Classification and diagnostic criteria

ACR criteria define FM as a chronic disorder characterized by the presence of widespread pain accompanied by tenderness upon palpation of at least 11 out of 18 predefined tender points throughout the musculoskeletal system [1]. The 1990 ACR classification criteria for FM were developed initially to facilitate research by identifying homogeneous groups so that results from different studies could be interpreted. In actual clinical practice it is currently common knowledge that there is nothing particularly sacred about the number 11. Using the ACR criteria in diagnosis of FM raises a number of problems. Tender points and widespread pain alone do not capture the essence of FM, multiple symptoms of which prominently include fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction [8].

The concept of using tender points as the defining feature of FM has also drawn criticism [9]. The tender points have been criticized due to the arbitrary nature of the 11-point cutoff, due to the lack of a clear association between tender points and the underlying pathophysiology of FM, and due to the close association between tender points and distress, which has led to the characterization of tender points as a sedimentation rate of distress [10]. Clauw and Crofford have pointed out that, in contrast to women being 1.5 times as likely to experience chronic widespread pain, they are about 10 times as likely to meet the criteria for FM [11]. It was suggested that this disparity between the gender differential for chronic widespread pain and FM is due solely to the ACR criteria requiring 11 out of 18 tender points - this finding occurs 11 times more commonly in women than in men [11]. Wolfe developed an instrument that he designated a regional pain scale, which assessed various articular and nonarticular body regions for pain [12]. When combined with other assessments, such as a fatigue visual analog scale, the regional pain scale correctly identified most patients diagnosed as having FM by their rheumatologists [12].

Despite all of the critiques on the ACR criteria, these criteria served us well by enhancing much of the research in the field of FM. In the future, revised or newer classification criteria should be established, incorporating the large body of scientific data that have been gathered in the past decade.

Subtypes of fibromyalgia

Over the years it has became clear that FM is not a homogeneous condition. Although chronic widespread pain and increased tenderness are universally present, other associated symptoms are not present in all patients. Turk and coworkers showed that the subgroups identified by cluster analyses of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory in various chronic pain populations may also apply to a population of FM patients, and that each of the FM subgroups responds differently to treatment [13,14]. They analyzed data from three empirically based subgroups of dysfunctional, interpersonally distressed or adaptive coppers, all of whom underwent a standardized treatment program, and concluded that customizing treatment on the basis of psychosocial needs is likely to enhance treatment efficacy. Thieme and coworkers classified FM patients as dysfunctional, interpersonally distressed or adaptive coppers based on their responses to the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, and used hierarchical regression analyses to identify the predictors of pain behaviors for the population as a whole, and for the subgroups [15].

These results indicated that different variables account for the presence of pain behaviors in different subgroups of patients. It was concluded that the data provide support for the heterogeneity of the diagnosis of FM and have implications for treatment of subgroups of patients [15].

A study by Giesecke and colleagues using cluster analysis suggested that there may be three different subtypes of FM [16]. There appeared to be a group of FM patients who exhibit extreme tenderness but lack any associated psychological/cognitive factors, an intermediate group who display moderate tenderness and have normal mood, and a group in whom mood and cognitive factors may be significantly influencing the symptom report. Recent evidence suggests a role for polymorphisms of genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems in the pathogenesis of FM [4-6]. The knowledge of these gene polymorphisms may help with better subgrouping of FM patients in the future and may help in designing a more specific pharmacologic treatment approach.

Fibromyalgia - a member of the functional somatic syndromes

Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are defined as a group of related syndromes characterized more by symptoms, suffering and disability than by structural or functional abnormality [17]. It is now known that FM overlaps and is associated with a variety of other FSS, including chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. Recently, Yunus has suggested the term central sensitivity syndromes to describe FM and related conditions [18].

The concept of central sensitivity syndrome has been suggested to be based on mutual associations among the central sensitivity syndrome conditions as well as the evidence for central sensitization among several central sensitivity syndrome members. It was suggested that such evidence is weak or is not available in other members at this time, however, and therefore further studies are required [18]. The biology of central sensitivity syndrome was concluded to be based on neuroendocrine aberrations, including central sensitization, that interact with psychosocial factors to cause a number of symptoms [18]. Kanaan and colleagues have suggested that phenomenological commonalities support a close relationship between the FSS [19], although differences remain in other domains. It was concluded that whether the FSS may best be considered the same or different will depend on the pragmatics of diagnosis [19].

FSS may share pathogenetic mechanisms as well. Central sensitization that involves hyperexcitement of the central neurons through various synaptic and neurotransmitter/neurochemical activities has been demonstrated in several FSS. Most neuroimaging studies conducted have demonstrated differences within the central nervous system, whether at baseline or in response to stimulation in patients with various somatic syndromes [20].

Recent evidence suggests these syndromes may share heritable pathophysiological features and similar polymorphisms of genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems in FM and other FSS (discussed below in Genetics) [21]. Compared with controls, female patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome showed increased activation of a defensive emotional circuit in the context of a threat of abdominal pain [22]. It was suggested by the authors that since these circuits have an important role in central pain amplification related to affective and cognitive processes, the observed abnormality may be involved in the enhanced signals associated with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome [22]. Bradesi and colleagues demonstrated recently that stress-induced activation of spinal microglia has a key role in visceral hyperalgesia and associated spinal NK1R receptor upregulation [23]. Henningsen and colleagues provided an overview of current concepts underlying the management of FSS, of results of appropriate therapeutic trials in single syndromes and diagnostic analogues, and of practical steps for management [24]. It was concluded that nonpharmacologic treatments involving active participation of patients, such as exercise and psychotherapy, seem to be more effective than those that involve passive physical measures, including injections and operations.

Pharmacological agents with central nervous system action seem to be more consistently effective than drugs aiming at restoration of peripheral physiological dysfunction. Henningsen and colleagues suggested that a balance between biomedical approaches, organ-oriented approaches and cognitive interpersonal approaches is most appropriate [24].

Fibromyalgia and autoimmune disorders

FM is common in patients with autoimmune disease and may be the source of many of the symptoms and much of the disability in these patients [25,26]. Although FM is generally regarded as a noninflammatory and nonautoimmune disease, some patients have evidence of autoimmunity [27]. Although some FM patients display autoimmunity and FM is prevalent in autoimmune diseases, referring to FM as an autoimmune disease is speculative at the present time. The association of FM and autoimmune disease, specifically systemic lupus erythematosus, may pose diagnostic dilemmas. Although FM does not correlate with systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity, the clinical features of FM in these patients may contribute to misinterpretation of lupus activity [27]. The pain associated with arthritis in these autoimmune diseases may act as a peripheral pain generator, triggering or enhancing widespread pain.

Genetics

Recent evidence suggests that genetic factors may play a role in the pathogenesis of FM [4-6,21] (see Tables 1 and 2). Certain environmental factors (stressors) may trigger the development of FM in genetically predisposed individuals [11].

Table 1.

Genetic markers in fibromyalgia

System Genetic marker
Serotoninergic 5-HT2A receptor polymorphism T/T phenotype
SLC6A4 serotonin transporter
Dopaminergic Dopamine D4 receptor exon III repeat polymorphism
Catecholaminergic Catecholamine O-methyl transferase polymorphism
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Table 2.

Future clinical implications of molecular genetic findings in fibromyalgia

Subgrouping of fibromyalgia patients
Pharmacologic treatment based on knowledge of patient's genotype
• Subjects with the short 5-HTTLPR allele may be more suitable candidates for antidepressant medication
• Subjects without the 7DRD4 allele may be candidates for dopaminergic medication
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A number of studies published over recent years have documented increased prevalence of FM among family members of patients suffering from this syndrome [28-30]. Buskila and colleagues found that 28% of offspring of FM patients fulfilled the 1990 ACR classification criteria for the diagnosis of FM [28]. The authors have further reported that the prevalence of FM among blood relatives of patients with FM was 26%, and that the FM prevalence in male and female relatives was 14% and 41%, respectively [29]. Arnold and colleagues reported that FM aggregates strongly in families: the odds ratio measuring the odds of FM in a relative of a proband with FM versus the odds of FM in a relative of a proband with rheumatoid arthritis was 8.5 [30]. Research performed in recent years has demonstrated a role for polymorphisms of genes in the serotoninergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic systems in the etiology of FM [4-6,21]. Polymorphisms in the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor (T/T phenotype), in the serotonin transporter, in the dopamine 4 receptor and in the catecholamine O-methyltransferase enzyme have therefore been detected at higher frequencies in patients with FM [4-6,21].

Notably, these polymorphisms all affect the metabolism or transport of monoamines, compounds that have a critical role in both sensory processing and the human stress response [31]. These polymorphisms are not specific for FM and are associated with other FSS. The mode of inheritance of FM is unknown but it is most probably polygenic.

Future large, well-designed studies are needed to further clarify the role of genetic factors in FM. The knowledge of these gene polymorphisms may help with better subgrouping of FM patients and in designing a more specific pharmacologic treatment approach.

Triggers

In addition to the genetic associations, various external stimuli such as infection, trauma and stress may contribute to development of the syndrome (see Table 3). Bennett and colleagues provided an Internet survey of 2,596 people with FM [32]. Approximately 21% of responders indicated that they could not identify any triggering events of their illness. Over 73% of those who indicated some triggering event made attributions to emotional trauma or chronic stress. The next most common attribution was acute illness (26.7%), followed by physical stressors (surgery, motor vehicle collisions, and other injuries). Various infectious agents have been linked to the development of FM as well as to that of the closely related chronic fatigue syndrome.

Table 3.

Triggers capable of precipitating fibromyalgia

Physical trauma
Psychologic stress/distress (acute and/or chronic)
Infections
Peripheral pain syndromes (autoimmune diseases, osteoarthritis, complex regional pain syndrome)
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Viral agents, including hepatitis C and HIV, have been associated with FM on epidemiological and clinical grounds [33,34]. In particular cases, such as Lyme disease and HIV, obvious overlap of clinical manifestations can be described; nonetheless, evidence of the utility of antibiotic or antiviral treatment in FM or chronic fatigue syndrome is lacking [35].

Various forms of physical trauma have been implicated as triggering events in the pathogenesis of FM. Increased rates of FM have been demonstrated among patients undergoing cervical trauma during motor vehicle accidents [36]. Most recently, Wynne-Jones and colleagues found a 7.8% frequency of widespread pain within 12 months among a cohort of patients who underwent a motor vehicle collision [37]. Emotional trauma and stress have also been implicated as triggers of FM. Post-traumatic stress disorder may precipitate the development of FM, and both conditions share similar pathogenic mechanisms [38].

Pathogenesis of fibromyalgia

Tremendous progress in the past decade has been made in our understanding of FM, which is now recognized as one of many central pain syndromes [31]. Central sensitization is an emerging biopsychosocial concept currently considered to characterize a wide spectrum of interrelated FSS, which may subsequently be better defined as central sensitivity syndromes [18].

Central sensitization constitutes a condition of general overreactivity of the central nervous system to a wide spectrum of stimulation.

Various areas in the central nervous system are responsible for inhibiting ascending pain transmission within the spinal cord through the activity of inhibitory neurotransmitters, which include serotonin, norepinephrine, enkephalins, γ-amino butyric acid and adenosine. A decrease in this pain inhibitory loop is an important component of central sensitization syndrome [39]. Separate areas of the central nervous system, including the limbic system and the medial thalamic nuclei, are involved in the affective response of the central nervous system to pain [40].

The advent of imaging techniques has provided valuable insight into the biological meaning of central sensitization in FM. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, Gracely and colleagues were able to demonstrate that conditions resulting in comparable subjective sensation of pain also resulted in activation patterns that were similar in FM patients and control individuals; on the other hand, similar levels of pressure (which invoke higher levels of pain among FM patients relative to control individuals) resulted in activation of different areas and caused greater effects in patients [41]. Cook and colleagues similarly showed that, in response to painful stimuli, FM patients had greater activity in the contralateral insular cortex than healthy control individuals [42], as demonstrated by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Pain catastrophizing was significantly associated with increased activity in some brain areas related to anticipation of pain (medial frontal cortex, cerebellum), attention to pain (dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and emotional aspects of pain [43]. These results suggested that catastrophizing influences pain perception by altering attention and anticipation, and by heightening emotional responses to pain [43]. A recent study by Harris and colleagues used μ-opioid receptor positron emission tomography in FM patients and in matched healthy control individuals [44]. The study demonstrated that FM patients display reduced μ-opioid receptor within several regions that play an important role in pain regulation, such as the nucleus accumbens, the dorsal cingulate and the amygdala. These results indicate altered endogenous opioid analgesic activity in FM and explain why exogenous opiates appear to have reduced efficacy in this population.

Changes in glutamate levels within the insula were demonstrated recently to be associated with changes in multiple pain domains in patients with FM [45]. It was suggested that proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy data may serve as a useful biomarker and surrogate endpoint for clinical trials of FM. Functional brain imaging techniques have thus supplied FM researchers with a long-awaited tool for objective evaluation of pain. This tool enables further evaluation of various factors capable of influencing the functioning of the nervous system as well as response to pharmacological interventions. Perturbations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been demonstrated in FM patients [46]. Similarly, alterations in the functioning of the autonomic nervous system have frequently been described in FM [47]. Autonomic dysfunction is inherent to FM [48]. Sympathetic hyperactivity has been described by diverse groups of investigators in FM [49]. Cohen and colleagues reported on abnormal sympathovagal balance in men with sympathetic hyperactivity and concomitantly reduced parasympathetic activity [50]. The basal autonomic state of patients with FM was characterized by increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic tones in women with FM [51]. It was suggested that autonomic dysregulation may have implications regarding the symptomatology, physical and psychological aspects of health status [51].

Solano and colleagues reported that patients with FM have multiple nonpain symptoms related to different expressions of autonomic dysfunction, and that there was a correlation between the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and an autonomic dysfunction questionnaire [48].

Nonrestorative sleep is common in FM. About 75% of patients report sleep disturbances, including early middle or late insomnia, hypersomnia and frequent awakening. Moldofsky and colleagues were the first to demonstrate that the disruption of stage 4 nonrapid eye movement or deep sleep in normal healthy people by noise stimuli resulted in complaints of unrefreshing sleep, variable aching and fatigue [52]. FM patients reported more insomnia-related symptoms than either rheumatoid arthritis patients or a population sample [53]. The higher prevalence of insomnia-related symptoms among FM patients was not explained by depression or pain [53].

Finally, there is a continuous effort to identify objective measurable biomarkers in FM patients that may identify susceptible individuals, may facilitate diagnosis or that parallel activity of the disease [54]. Dadabhoy and colleagues provided a systematic literature review assessing highly investigated, objective measures used in FM studies. The authors concluded that to date only experimental pain testing has been shown to coincide with improvements in clinical status in a longitudinal study [54].

Concerted efforts to systematically evaluate additional objective measures in research trials have been suggested vital for ongoing progress in outcome research and translation into clinical practice [54].

Management of fibromyalgia

As FM is a complex syndrome associated with a wide range of symptoms, treatment should be tailored to the individual, dealing with their particular needs and targeting their most distressing symptoms. The aim of treating FM is to decrease pain and to increase function by means of a multimodal therapeutic strategy, which in most cases includes pharmacologic interventions [55,56]. Recently, the Food and Drugs Administration approved three drugs for the treatment of FM: pregabalin, duloxetine, and milnacipran (see Table 4). This fact may herald a new era for the development of medication with higher specificity and efficacy for this condition.

Table 4.

Drugs approved by the Food and Drugs Administration for treatment of fibromyalgia

Drug Class Mechanism
Duloxetine Antidepressant Balanced norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition
Milnacipran Antidepressant Balanced norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition
Pregabalin Anticonvulsant α2δ ligand; affects calcium influx and release of excitatory amino acids and neuropeptides
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Pregabalin is an α2δ ligand that reduces calcium influx at nerve terminals and therefore reduces the release of several neurochemicals, including glutamate, noradrenalin and substance P [57]. Crofford and colleagues [58] compared the effects of pregabalin (150, 300 and 450 mg/day) on pain, sleep, fatigue and health-related quality of life in 529 FM patients, and found that it was superior to placebo in reducing the scores for pain, the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire, the sleep index, fatigue, patient and clinician global impression of change, and four of the eight short-form SF-36 domains. Arnold and colleagues reported that anxiety symptoms were more common than depressive symptoms in their cohort of FM patients and that the pain treatment effect of pregabalin did not depend on baseline anxiety or depressive symptoms [59], suggesting that pregabalin improves pain in patients with or without these symptoms. Much of the pain reduction appeared to be independent of improvements in anxiety or mood symptoms [59].

Mease and colleagues evaluated the efficacy and safety of pregabalin for symptomatic relief of pain associated with FM and for management of FM [60]. This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trail randomly assigned 748 patients with FM to receive placebo or pregabalin 300, 450 or 600 mg/day for 13 weeks. Patients in all pregabalin groups showed statistically significant improvement in the endpoint mean pain score and in patient global impression of change response compared with placebo. Improvements in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire total score for the pregabalin groups were numerically greater but not significantly greater than those for the placebo group. The authors concluded that pregabalin provides clinically meaningful benefit to patients with FM.

In another study Mease and colleagues evaluated the safely and efficacy of milnacipran, a dual norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor in the treatment of FM, in a 27-week randomized, double-blind, multicenter study [61]. They compared milnacipran 100 and 200 mg/day with placebo in the treatment of 888 patients with FM. At the primary endpoint, after 3 months of stable dose treatment, a significantly higher percentage of milnacipran-treated patients met the criteria than FM responders versus placebo. A significantly higher percentage of patients treated with milnacipran 200 mg/day also met the criteria as FM pain responders versus placebo. At 15 weeks, milnacipran 200 mg/day led to significant improvements over placebo in pain, patient global impression of change, fatigue, cognition and multiple short-form SF-36 domains. Milnacipran was safe and well tolerated by the majority of patients during 27 weeks of treatment [61]. In a different study, both doses of milnacipran (100 and 200 mg/day) were associated with significant improvements in pain and other symptoms [62].

Duloxetine is a norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Two 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have evaluated duloxetine in patients with FM [63,64]. Compared with patients on placebo, FM patients treated with duloxetine 60 mg once daily or with duloxetine 60 mg twice daily had significantly greater improvement in remaining Brief Pain Inventory pain severity and interference scores, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scores, Clinical Global Impression of Severity scores, Patient Global Impression of Improvement scores, and several quality of life measures. The authors concluded that both duloxetine 60 mg once daily and duloxetine 60 mg twice daily were effective and safe in the treatment of FM in female patients with or without major depressive disorder [63]. In the other randomized controlled 12-week trial, duloxetine was an effective and safe treatment for many of the symptoms associated with FM in subjects with or without major depressive disorder, particularly for women who had significant improvement across most outcome measures [64].

Hauser and colleagues provided a meta-analysis of clinical trials (randomized controlled trials) assessing the efficacy of multicomponent treatment in FM [65]. There was strong evidence for the efficacy of multicomponent therapy to reduce some key symptoms of FM, such as pain, fatigue and depressed mood, and to improve self-efficacy and physical fitness post treatment. There was also strong evidence that the positive effects of multicomponent therapy on the key symptoms of FM decline with time [65]. A systematic review of papers on antidepressants in rheumatological conditions was performed [66]. The strongest evidence on an analgesic effect of antidepressants has been obtained for FM.

Analgesic effects of antidepressants were independent of their antidepressant effects. Tricyclic antidepressants, even at low doses, had analgesic effects equivalent to those of serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors, but were less well tolerated. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors had modest analgesic effects, but higher doses were required to achieve analgesia [66].

A systematic review on the effectiveness of treatment with antidepressants in fibromyalgia syndrome found that amitriptyline 25 to 50 mg/day reduces pain, fatigue and depressiveness in patients with FM, and improves sleep and quality of life [67]. It was concluded that most selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors duloxetine and milnacipran are probably also effective. The review suggested that short-term treatment of patients with FM using amitriptyline or another of the antidepressants that were effective in randomized controlled trials can be recommended. It was stressed that data on long-term efficacy are lacking [67]. A EULAR task force developed management recommendations for FM based on a systematic review [68]. The nine recommendations included eight management categories; three of which had strong evidence from the current literature, and three were based on expert opinion [68]. Clinical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the α2δ ligands (gabapentine and pregabalin) and the norepinephrine/serotonin reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine and milnacipran) in FM [69]. Exercise is a crucial part of treatment for FM patients.

A comprehensive review of 46 exercise treatment studies in FM reported that the strongest evidence was in support of aerobic exercise [70]. In general, the greatest effect and lowest attrition occurred in exercise programs that were of lower intensity than those of higher intensity [70]. The combination of nonpharmacological treatments such as exercise programs and psychological support together with analgesics and off-label use of tricyclic medications, sedative hypnotics and reuptake inhibitors have all led to limited success; the recent introduction of pregabalin, an α2δ ligand, and the serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors duloxetine and milnacipran is a promising development in the field of FM [71]. The current research being carried out on novel sedative hypnotics, antiepileptic medications, various reuptake inhibitors, growth hormone agonists, canabinoid agonists and 5-HT3 antagonists offers hope for future improvement in our therapeutic options for dealing with FM.

Conclusion

Major progress has been reached in our understanding of FM in the past decade. High prevalence marks the syndrome that is considered to reflect altered central pain processing. Genetic and environmental factors may play a role in the etiopathology of FM and other related syndromes. FM requires a multimodal management program including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities.

New medications have been developed and clinical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the α2δ ligands (pregabalin) and the serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine and milnacipran). As our understanding of the biological basis in general - and the genetic underpinning, in particular - of FM increases, we hope to gain a better understanding of the true nature of the disorder, to attain more rational therapeutic modalities, and to help patients.

Abbreviations

ACR: American College of Rheumatology; FM: fibromyalgia; FSS: functional somatic syndromes.

Competing interests

The author declares that he is a consultant and on the speaker bureaus for Pfizer and Pierre Fabre Medicament.

Note

The Scientific Basis of Rheumatology: A Decade of Progress

This article is part of a special collection of reviews, The Scientific Basis of Rheumatology: A Decade of Progress, published to mark Arthritis Research & Therapy's 10th anniversary.

Other articles in this series can be found at: http://arthritis-research.com/sbr

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