Is Fibromyalgia an Autoimmune Disease? London Experts Weigh In

Here at London’s leading Fibromyalgia clinic (the Fibro Clinic), our Fibro Pain Doctors are always abreast of current research conducted by leading institutions. This research is essential due to the urgent need for breakthroughs that can help sufferers whose lives have been turned upside down with this painful, distressing, and often unrelenting disorder. And now, with the breakthrough of important research that shows potential links between fibromyalgia and autoimmune disease, their diagnostic and treatment strategy has expanded.

The London Fibro Clinic

 Situated in London’s Harley Street (and accessible via online and in-person appointments), our world class Fibromyalgia Consultants have a wealth of expertise in the accurate diagnosis and treatment of this condition. – A condition which has often been fobbed off by GPs. Moreover, due to their innovative outlook, they offer a multidisciplinary comprehensive holistic approach which is designed to help patients get their life back on track. So to that end, once patients have been diagnosed using our advanced diagnostic tools and methods, they will be given a Holistic Personalised Treatment Plan which they can get started on right away.

The Low-Down on Fibromyalgia

Sufferers with fibromyalgia experience long-term pain, and are sensitive to cold and pressure throughout their body. Moreover, some patients also report fatigue, emotional distress, and insomnia.

 Did You Know?

 Most estimates indicate that 80% of fibro sufferers are female. And that antibodies from  fibromyalgia patients appear to sensitise nociceptors [1]. Note: a nociceptor refers to a sensory nerve cell (neuron) that reacts to damaging or potentially damaging stimuli by transmitting “potential threat” signals to the brain and spinal cord.

 The Study Connecting Fibro With Autoimmune Disease

As our London Fibro Clinic Doctors explain to patients, “a study has now found that antibodies from people with fibromyalgia induce symptoms of the disease in mice. This strongly suggests that fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disorder [the latter comes about when the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues]. So to that end, this discovery could lead to diagnostic blood tests for the disease and more effective treatments” [1]

 Whilst it has to be said that medical scientists have yet not been able to pinpoint what exactly is behind fibromyalgia, various factors point to the possibility that the immune system could be the cause. A good indicator of this is that patients who have autoimmune conditions rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, are more inclined to develop fibromyalgia [1].

The Research Details

 A research team involving scientists at the University of Liverpool, the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and King’s College London, “now suggests that many fibromyalgia symptoms occur when the individual’s antibodies increase the activity of pain-sensing nerves” [1]. Indeed, when researchers injected antibodies from fibro sufferers into mice, the latter became more sensitised to offensive stimuli. In addition to this, the mice didn’t move around as much as normal, and became weaker. Conversely, “neither injections of antibodies from healthy controls nor serum from people with fibromyalgia with the antibodies removed had an effect on the mice” [1]. Of note, the antibodies conjugated with cells in the dorsal root ganglia – the latter of which describe a collection of nerve cell bodies that send sensory impulses to the central nervous system.

The University of Liverpool’s investigator who headed the study, Dr. Andreas Goebel, M.Sc., Ph.D., noted that: “he expected some cases of fibromyalgia to be autoimmune when he initiated the study in the UK, however, one of the other team discovered pain-causing antibodies in each recruited patient” [1]. He concluded that: “the results offer amazing hope that the invisible, devastating symptoms of fibromyalgia will become treatable” [1]. – A hope that is echoed by all of our Fibromyalgia Specialists at the London Fibro Clinic.

  Reference

[1]. Kingsland, J. (2021). “Fibromyalgia: More evidence of links to immune system.” Medical News Today.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/fibromyalgia-more-evidence-of-links-to-immune-system