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Mucci V, Demori I, Browne CJ, Deblieck C, Burlando B. Fibromyalgia in Pregnancy: Neuro-Endocrine Fluctuations Provide Insight into Pathophysiology and Neuromodulation Treatment. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020615. [PMID: 36831148 PMCID: PMC9953487 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain disorder with unclear pathophysiological mechanisms, which leads to challenges in patient management. In addition to pain, the disorder presents with a broad range of symptoms, such as sleep disruption, chronic fatigue, brain fog, depression, muscle stiffness, and migraine. FM has a considerable female prevalence, and it has been shown that symptoms are influenced by the menstrual cycle and periods of significant hormonal and immunological changes. There is increasing evidence that females with FM experience an aggravation of symptoms in pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester and after childbirth. In this perspective paper, we focus on the neuro-endocrine interactions that occur between progesterone, allopregnanolone, and cortisol during pregnancy, and propose that they align with our previously proposed model of FM pathogenesis based on GABAergic "weakening" in a thalamocortical neural loop system. Based on our hypothesis, we introduce the possibility of utilizing transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) as a non-invasive treatment potentially capable of exerting sex-specific effects on FM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Mucci
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Ilaria Demori
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Corso Europa, 26, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Cherylea J. Browne
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
- Translational Neuroscience Facility, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Brain Stimulation and Rehabilitation (BrainStAR) Lab, School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW 2560, Australia
| | - Choi Deblieck
- Antwerp Management School, University of Antwerp, Boogkeers 5, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bruno Burlando
- Department of Pharmacy, DIFAR, University of Genova, Viale Benedetto XV, 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
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Schreiber K, Frishman M, Russell MD, Dey M, Flint J, Allen A, Crossley A, Gayed M, Hodson K, Khamashta M, Moore L, Panchal S, Piper M, Reid C, Saxby K, Senvar N, Tosounidou S, van de Venne M, Warburton L, Williams D, Yee CS, Gordon C, Giles I, Giles I, Roddy E, Armon K, Astell L, Cotton C, Davidson A, Fordham S, Jones C, Joyce C, Kuttikat A, McLaren Z, Merrison K, Mewar D, Mootoo A, Williams E. British Society for Rheumatology guideline on prescribing drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding: comorbidity medications used in rheumatology practice. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2022; 62:e89-e104. [PMID: 36318967 PMCID: PMC10070063 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karen Schreiber
- Thrombosis & Haemophilia Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London, UK
- Department of Rheumatology, Danish Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases , Sonderborg, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark , Odense, Denmark
| | - Margreta Frishman
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust , London, UK
| | - Mark D Russell
- Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, King’s College London , London, UK
| | - Mrinalini Dey
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool , Liverpool, UK
| | - Julia Flint
- Department of Rheumatology, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust , Shropshire, UK
| | - Alexander Allen
- Clinical Affairs, British Society for Rheumatology , London, UK
| | | | - Mary Gayed
- Rheumatology, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust , Birmingham, UK
| | - Kenneth Hodson
- The UK Teratology Information Service , Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Munther Khamashta
- Division of Women’s Health, Lupus Research Unit, King's College London , London, UK
| | - Louise Moore
- Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Disease Unit, Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Service , Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sonia Panchal
- Rheumatology, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust , Warwickshire, UK
| | - Madeleine Piper
- Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Royal United Hospital , Bath, UK
| | | | - Katherine Saxby
- Pharmacology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , London, UK
| | - Naz Senvar
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , London, UK
| | - Sofia Tosounidou
- Lupus UK Centre of Excellence, Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust , Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Louise Warburton
- Shropshire Community NHS Trust , Shropshire, UK
- Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University , Keele, UK
| | - David Williams
- Obstetrics, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , London, UK
| | - Chee-Seng Yee
- Department of Rheumatology, Doncaster and Bassetlaw, Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , Doncaster, UK
| | - Caroline Gordon
- Rheumatology Research Group, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham , Birmingham, UK
| | - Ian Giles
- Centre for Rheumatology, Department of Inflammation, Division of Medicine, University College London , London, UK
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