Fibromyalgia. 2. Management guidelines and research findings

Fibromyalgia in patients with chronic CCD and CMD - A retrospective study of 555 patients

OBJECTIVE

Craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) and craniocervical dysfunction (CCD) are clearly defined musculoskeletal pain syndromes. Relationships with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) have not yet been investigated. The aim of the present study is to establish possible relationships between FMS and CMD/ CCD.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, 555 patients with CCD and CMD were investigated with respect to the diagnostic criteria of FMS. In addition to otolaryngologic and dental examination, an instrumental functional analysis for the diagnosis of CMD/CCD was performed.

RESULTS

Three hundred fifty-one (63%) of the 555 patients evaluated met the diagnostic criteria for FMS. Seventy-two percent of the patients had a widespread pain index of at least 7 and a severity scale score of at least 5. Twenty-nine percent had a widespread pain index of 3-6 and a severity scale score of at least 9. Using myocentric bite splint therapy and therapy with oral orthesis in combination with neuromuscular relaxation measures, a good to very good improvement of physical symptoms was seen in 84% of CMD-FMS patients, and an improvement of the symptoms in the jaw was achieved in 77% of cases.

DISCUSSION

The substantial proportion of CMD and CCD patients who meet the criteria for FMS emphasizes the complexity of the two diseases. It must be assumed that FMS is a crucial factor for the formation of CMD and CCD. Conversely, CMD/ CCD could also be responsible for diverse clinical pictures of the FMS. FMS patients with synchronous CCD/CMD benefit from an interdisciplinary CMD/CCD treatment.

Neuroendocrine and immune aspects of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a form of non-articular rheumatism characterised by long term (>3 months) and widespread musculoskeletal aching, stiffness and pressure hyperalgesia at characteristic soft tissue sites, called soft tissue tender points. The biophysiology of fibromyalgia, however, has remained elusive and the treatment remains mainly empirical. This article reviews the neuroendocrine-immune pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. There is no major evidence that fibromyalgia is accompanied by activation of the inflammatory response system, by immune activation or by an inflammatory process. There is some evidence that fibromyalgia is accompanied by some signs of immunosuppression, suggesting that immunomodifying drugs could have potential in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Recent trials with cytokines, such as interferon-alpha, have been undertaken in patients with fibromyalgia. Immunotherapy with these agents, however, may induce symptoms reminiscent of fibromyalgia and depression in a considerable number of patients. Lowered serum activity of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP), a cytosolic endopeptidase that cleaves peptide bonds on the carboxyl side of proline in proteins of relatively small molecular mass, may play a role in the biophysiology of fibromyalgia through diminished inactivation of algesic and depression-related peptides, e.g. substance P. Trials with PEP agonists could be worthwhile in fibromyalgia. The muscle energy depletion hypothesis of fibromyalgia is supported by findings that this condition is accompanied by lowered plasma levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), i.e. valine, leucine and isoleucine. Since there is evidence that BCAA supplementation decreases muscle catabolism and has ergogenic values, a supplemental trial with BCAAs in fibromyalgia appears to be justified.