Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2007 , Vol 53 , Num 2

Physiopathologic Mechanisms in Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Ender Berker 1
1 İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye

This report is presented with aim of clarifying some of the basic issues concerning the fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). The ACR 1990 criteria fort he diagnosis and treatment of FMS present to be incompetent in screening sub-groups and individualizing treatment planning. Studies on the familial occurrence and genetic markers have not proven to be valid and reliable in diagnosing and screening the patients. Latest data on the physiopathologic mechanisms of chronic pain have demonstrated that the same mechanisms also apply in FMS. Recently demonstrated neurotransmitters in the CNS have both excitatory and inhibitory effects in FMS and Modulate pain transmission and verbalization of pain in these patients. Studies on muscle pathology are yet inadequate to prove peripheral nociceptive sources. It may be concluded that although pain mechanisms can be explained on the neurotransmitter level, there are still many questions to be answered in the ethiopathology and pathogenesis of this syndrome. 

Keywords : Fibromyalgia syndrome, physiopathology