Neurogenic Inflammation in Fibromyalgia

Overview

Journal Semin Immunopathol

Publisher Springer

Specialties Allergy & Immunology
Pathology

Date 2018 Mar 21

PMID 29556959

Citations 58

Authors

Geoffrey Littlejohn

Emma Guymer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a high impact chronic pain disorder with a well-defined and robust clinical phenotype. Key features include widespread pain and tenderness, high levels of sleep disturbance, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction and emotional distress. Abnormal processing of pain and other sensory input occurs in the brain, spinal cord and periphery and is related to the processes of central and peripheral sensitization. As such, fibromyalgia is deemed to be one of the central sensitivity syndromes. There is increasing evidence of neurogenically derived inflammatory mechanisms occurring in the peripheral tissues, spinal cord and brain in fibromyalgia. These involve a variety of neuropeptides, chemokines and cytokines with activation of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. This process results in several of the peripheral clinical features of fibromyalgia, such as swelling and dysesthesia, and may influence central symptoms, such as fatigue and changes in cognition. In turn, emotional and stress-related physiological mechanisms are seen as upstream drivers of neurogenic inflammation in fibromyalgia.

Citing Articles

Neuroinflammatory and Immunological Aspects of Fibromyalgia.

Findeisen K, Guymer E, Littlejohn G Brain Sci. 2025; 15(2).

PMID: 40002538 PMC: 11852494. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15020206.

Fibromyalgia and Inflammation: Unrevealing the Connection.

Garcia-Dominguez M Cells. 2025; 14(4).

PMID: 39996743 PMC: 11853252. DOI: 10.3390/cells14040271.

Fibromyalgia: Understanding, Diagnosis and Modern Approaches to Treatment.

Filipovic T, Filipovic A, Nikolic D, Gimigliano F, Stevanov J, Hrkovic M J Clin Med. 2025; 14(3).

PMID: 39941626 PMC: 11818761. DOI: 10.3390/jcm14030955.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Fibromyalgia and the Role of the Endogenous Opioid System.

Garcia-Dominguez M Biomedicines. 2025; 13(1).

PMID: 39857749 PMC: 11762748. DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13010165.

Association of high complement and low immunoglobulins with the clinical symptoms of patients with fibromyalgia.

Izuno S, Hosoi M, Anno K, Kato T, Sudo N, Yoshihara K Biopsychosoc Med. 2025; 19(1):1.

PMID: 39838480 PMC: 11748331. DOI: 10.1186/s13030-024-00321-9.

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