Biomarkers: How Recent Advances Could Finally Give Fibromyalgia a Clearer Map

From blood tests to brain scans, as our Fibro Doctors frequently tell patients, scientists are closer than ever to identifying the biological fingerprints that define fibromyalgia.

Did You Know?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is the most widespread central sensitivity syndrome, moreover, it impacts 2–5% of the adult populous (including 3.9% of females aged 20–40 and 5.8% of females aged 40–60). Moreover, “medically unexplained symptoms or central sensitivity syndromes (CSS) such as fibromyalgia, are some of the most common and difficult to treat disorders” [1].

On a bright note, however, “multiple studies have shown that early diagnosis of this condition can improve patient outlook, and efforts have been made towards improving diagnostic accuracy through updated criteria” [1]. Naturally, here at the London Fibro Clinic, we encourage anyone who thinks that they may have fibromyalgia, to contact us as soon as possible. – That way, we can arrange an in-person or online consultation with one of our world-class Fibro Pain Specialists, who will provide you with an accurate diagnosis, and then get you started on a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan right from the get-go. This is likely to be multifaceted, and include conventional treatment, as well as the latest cutting-edge state-of-the-art therapies and injectables (including pain blockers and Botox).

The Low-Down on the Complexities of Fibro

Fibromyalgia is classed as a clinical syndrome which is distinguished by:

• The dysregulation of neuroendocrine function (neuroendocrine refers to: certain cells that release hormones into the bloodstream in reaction to nervous system stimulation)
• And/or nociceptive processing (this refers to the neural processes of encoding and processing noxious stimuli) [1]

 Fibromyalgia’s clinical symptoms incorporate:

• Widespread pain (which frequently brings about insomnia
• Potential automatic dysfunction which is indicated by many linked symptoms, including temporo-mandibular joint dysfunction, interstitial cystitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) [1]

Being the most prevalent of the central sensitivity syndromes, fibromyalgia presents substantial therapeutic and diagnostic challenges. Indeed:

 “Seventy-five percent of individuals with FM remain undiagnosed. Furthermore, from time of onset of initial symptoms, it takes on average up to 5 years for affected individuals to obtain a diagnosis. This extended period between disease onset and diagnosis leads to years of unnecessary medical investigations, and can result in delayed and potentially suboptimal treatment” [1].

Moreover, unfortunately, many patients are either thought of as exaggerating their symptoms, or are misdiagnosed. In the UK, this is due to the fact that GPs have not undergone the necessary years of extended training and in-house clinical experience in pain syndromes and conditions, including fibromyalgia, not to mention providing the latest cutting-edge state-of-the-art therapies and injectables. – The latter of which, along with conventional treatment, are provided by the London Fibro Clinic’s Holistic Personalised Treatment Plans (as soon as one of our Pain Doctors has given you an accurate diagnosis).  Of note: consultations with our Pain Specialists can be either in-person or online.

In Search of Biomarkers

At the present time, verification and diagnosis of Fibro, is ongoing. Moreover, insufficiencies with today’s diagnostic benchmarks have ignited the need for identifying a reproducible marker which can confirm this disorder in a unique, highly sensitive, and duplicable manner. Indeed, research studies indicate that: “future efforts might benefit from approaches that utilise arrays of biomarkers that can identify this disorder that presents with a diverse clinical phenotype. – Aspects that the London Fibro Clinic fully concurs with. Note: biomarkers can incorporate: tissue characteristics, molecules in body fluids (e.g., blood), and physiological measurements (such as body weight or  blood pressure). Further, biomarkers are employed to: ascertain how well a body is reacting to therapy, predict risk, monitor disease progression, and assist in the diagnosis of disease.

Reference

[1]. Hackshaw KV. The Search for Biomarkers in Fibromyalgia. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Jan 21;11(2):156. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11020156. As cited by NUH/PMC.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7911687/