Pain complaints in patients with fibromyalgia versus chronic fatigue syndrome

• Published in: Current pain and headache reports Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 148 - 157
• Main Authors: Bradley, L A, McKendree-Smith, N L, Alarcón, G S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 2000
• Subjects: Brain - abnormalities; Brain - blood supply; Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone - metabolism; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - complications; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - diagnosis; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic - physiopathology; Fibromyalgia; Fibromyalgia - complications; Fibromyalgia - diagnosis; Fibromyalgia - physiopathology; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Hydrocortisone - urine; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology; Hypothalamus - metabolism; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mental Disorders - complications; Nociceptors - physiopathology; Pain; Pain - complications; Pain - diagnosis; Pain - genetics; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiopathology; Synaptic Transmission - physiology
• ISSN: 1069-5850; 1531-3433; 1534-3081
• DOI: 10.1007/s11916-000-0050-2

Individuals with fibromyalgia (FM) and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) report arthralgias and myalgias. However, only persons with FM alone exhibit abnormal pain responses to mild levels of stimulation, or allodynia. We identify the abnormalities in the neuroendocrine axes that are common to FM and CFS as well as the abnormalities in central neuropeptide levels and functional brain activity that differentiate these disorders. These two sets of factors, respectively, may account for the similarities and differences in the pain experiences of persons with FM and CFS.