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Etiology

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Fibromyalgia

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Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a multifactorial disease defined by generalized tenderness and its association with chronic fatigue, sleep disturbance, and cognitive dysfunction. The etiology of FMS is not known but growth in research has provided several possible contributing factors. The most widely accepted hypothesis involves a maladaptive amplification of pain signals in the central nervous system (CNS), called central sensitization. Similar to other chronic pain states, the decreased threshold for pain in FMS may be due to disruption of monoamine (serotonin, norepinephrine) neurotransmission in the spinal cord. Several putative genetic polymorphisms have been found in greater frequency among subpopulations of FMS patients and many of these are involved in the mobilization and metabolism of the same monoamines. Oxidative stress may be an environmental exposure that contributes to nerve damage and increases the risk of chronic pain conditions like FMS. Antecedent physical trauma and peritraumatic emotional stress are associated with development of chronic pain and their role as causative agents in FMS is an active area of research.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Omar I. Halawa MD, MS

  2. Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    David A. Edwards MD, PhD

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  1. Omar I. Halawa MD, MS
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  2. David A. Edwards MD, PhD
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Correspondence to David A. Edwards MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Voluntary Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Pain Medicine, University of California San Diego,, Lexington, South Carolina, USA

    Erin Lawson, MD

  2. Professor of Clinical Anesthesiology,Chief, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA

    Mark S. Wallace, MD

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Halawa, O., Edwards, D. (2015). Etiology. In: Lawson, MD, E., Wallace, MD, M. (eds) Fibromyalgia. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15820-4_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15820-4_3

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