On the occasion of World Fibromyalgia Day, Italian researchers have revealed that small damaged fibers in the nervous system could be responsible for this syndrome.
- In France, it is estimated that 1.5 to 2% of the population suffer from fibromyalgia syndrome.
- Women between the ages of 30 and 55 are more often affected by fibromyalgia.
- Chronic pain is the main symptom of this disease. Other symptoms, namely fatigue or sleep disturbances, differ from patient to patient and change over time.
So far, the cause of fibromyalgia is not known. According to’Insermthis chronic disease, characterized by persistent diffuse pain, would be of multifactorial origin, linked to biological, psychological and social factors. “Previous research shows that patients with fibromyalgia syndrome show signs of damage to small fibers of the nervous system, which can lead to pain and autonomic symptoms, at a frequency that has not yet been systematically evaluated”wrote researchers from Sapienza, University of Rome in Italy, in a recent study.
The role of small nerve fibers
As part of their work published in the journal Diagnoses, they reviewed 360 cohorts on the assessment of small fibers in patients with fibromyalgia. Of the 88 studies reviewed, 20 were included in the meta-analysis, involving 903 patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Their objective was to understand the role of the small fibers of the nervous system on the onset of the pathology and to determine the frequency of their alteration.
“A deficiency of small somatic and autonomic fibers”
Based on the results, the estimated prevalence of small somatic fiber damage was 49%, while the estimated prevalence of small autonomic fiber damage was 45%. “Our study shows that a considerable proportion of patients with fibromyalgia have somatic and autonomic small fiber impairment. Nevertheless, heterogeneity and inconsistencies between studies call into question the exact role of small fiber impairment in the symptoms of fibromyalgia”, can we read in the works.
