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Hansen AS, Rask CU, Kallesøe KH. Inflammatory Markers in Children and Adolescents with Functional Somatic Disorders: A Systematic Review. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:549. [PMID: 38790544 PMCID: PMC11119612 DOI: 10.3390/children11050549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Functional somatic disorders (FSDs) are common in children and adolescents. Recent findings suggest that low-grade inflammation has a role in the development and maintenance of pediatric FSDs. This systematic review included studies with original data on systemic inflammatory markers in children and adolescents with an FSD compared to individuals without an FSD. The literature search identified 1374 articles. After assessment, a total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. In total, 41 serum or plasma cytokines were assayed in a population of 696 children and adolescents. Altered cytokine levels in patients with FSDs were reported in 12 studies, whereas three studies found no significant differences when comparing patients with FSDs and controls. The cytokine levels were significantly elevated in nine studies (i.e., IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 (p70), CRP, hsCRP, IP-10, MCP-1, sTIM-3, sCD25 and TNF-α). The findings indicate that inflammatory response may have a role in the pathophysiology of pediatric FSDs. However, the included studies showed limited quality with potential risk of bias, small study populations and a narrow spectrum of included FSDs, which limits the generalizability of the results. To further explore the potential link between inflammatory markers and pediatric FSDs, future research using a longitudinal study design is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sofie Hansen
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (C.U.R.); (K.H.K.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Karen Hansen Kallesøe
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital Psychiatry, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark; (C.U.R.); (K.H.K.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
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Jonker I, Visschedijk S, Rosmalen JG, Schenk HM, Van Ockenburg SL. Individual Heterogeneity in the Relations Between Sleep, Inflammation, and Somatic Symptoms. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:266-272. [PMID: 36825926 PMCID: PMC10082064 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Poor sleep is associated with the experience of more somatic symptoms and a proinflammatory state, whereas a proinflammatory state may also result in the experience of more somatic symptoms. However, existing studies ignore individual differences in these associations. We aimed to study relations between sleep, inflammatory markers, and somatic symptoms at a within-individual level. METHODS Time series of daily data on sleep, somatic symptoms, and inflammation markers in 10 healthy individuals (age, 19-58 years; three men) for 63 days were analyzed. Bidirectional lagged ( t - 1) and contemporaneous ( t ) relations between sleep duration, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interferon-α, interleukin 1RA), and somatic symptoms were analyzed using 24-hour urine and diary data. Unified structural equation modeling was used to analyze the association between sleep duration, the three inflammatory markers, and the amount of somatic symptoms at the individual level. RESULTS Associations were found between sleep and at least one of three inflammatory markers in four individuals, both positive (three associations) and negative (five associations) and contemporaneous (four associations) and lagged (four associations). Sleep was related to somatic symptoms in four individuals, both positive ( n = 2) and negative ( n = 2) and contemporaneous ( n = 3) and lagged ( n = 1). Inflammatory markers were associated with somatic symptoms in three individuals, both positive (three associations) and negative (one association) and contemporaneous (three associations) and lagged (one associations). Two individuals showed no associations between sleep, inflammatory markers, and somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS We observed a large variability in presence, strength, and direction of associations between sleep, inflammatory markers, and somatic symptoms.
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Meade E, Garvey M. The Role of Neuro-Immune Interaction in Chronic Pain Conditions; Functional Somatic Syndrome, Neurogenic Inflammation, and Peripheral Neuropathy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158574. [PMID: 35955708 PMCID: PMC9369187 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional somatic syndromes are increasingly diagnosed in chronically ill patients presenting with an array of symptoms not attributed to physical ailments. Conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia syndrome, or irritable bowel syndrome are common disorders that belong in this broad category. Such syndromes are characterised by the presence of one or multiple chronic symptoms including widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, and abdominal pain, amongst other issues. Symptoms are believed to relate to a complex interaction of biological and psychosocial factors, where a definite aetiology has not been established. Theories suggest causative pathways between the immune and nervous systems of affected individuals with several risk factors identified in patients presenting with one or more functional syndromes. Risk factors including stress and childhood trauma are now recognised as important contributors to chronic pain conditions. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during childhood is considered a severe stressor having a high prevalence in functional somatic syndrome suffers. Such trauma permanently alters the biological stress response of the suffers leading to neuroexcitatory and other nerve issues associated with chronic pain in adults. Traumatic and chronic stress results in epigenetic changes in stress response genes, which ultimately leads to dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, the autonomic nervous system, and the immune system manifesting in a broad array of symptoms. Importantly, these systems are known to be dysregulated in patients suffering from functional somatic syndrome. Functional somatic syndromes are also highly prevalent co-morbidities of psychiatric conditions, mood disorders, and anxiety. Consequently, this review aims to provide insight into the role of the nervous system and immune system in chronic pain disorders associated with the musculoskeletal system, and central and peripheral nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Meade
- Department of Life Science, Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland;
| | - Mary Garvey
- Department of Life Science, Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland;
- Centre for Precision Engineering, Materials and Manufacturing Research (PEM), Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland
- Correspondence:
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LeRoy AS, Petit WE, Brown RL, Murdock KW, Garcini LM, Stowe RP, Fagundes CP. Relationship satisfaction determines the association between Epstein-Barr virus latency and somatic symptoms after the loss of a spouse. PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS 2020; 27:652-673. [PMID: 36685314 PMCID: PMC9854169 DOI: 10.1111/pere.12336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The loss of a spouse is associated with a host of negative health outcomes. While bereaved individuals commonly report somatic symptoms, no investigations exist of the association between reactivation of latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and somatic symptoms among this population. Further, how an individual perceives the quality of their lost relationship in retrospect may impact loss outcomes. Among 99 bereaved spouses, elevated EBV antibody titers were associated with somatic symptoms for those who retrospectively reported high or mean levels of relationship satisfaction (RS), but not among those less satisfied. Further, higher RS was associated with greater grief symptoms. This study identifies higher retrospective RS as a possible risk factor for negative physical and mental health outcomes during bereavement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angie S. LeRoy
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Ryan L. Brown
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Kyle W. Murdock
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
| | - Luz M. Garcini
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Chris P. Fagundes
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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James C, Harfouche M, Welton NJ, Turner KM, Abu-Raddad LJ, Gottlieb SL, Looker KJ. Herpes simplex virus: global infection prevalence and incidence estimates, 2016. Bull World Health Organ 2020; 98:315-329. [PMID: 32514197 PMCID: PMC7265941 DOI: 10.2471/blt.19.237149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 350] [Impact Index Per Article: 87.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To generate global and regional estimates for the prevalence and incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 and type 2 infection for 2016. Methods To obtain data, we undertook a systematic review to identify studies up to August 2018. Adjustments were made to account for HSV test sensitivity and specificity. For each World Health Organization (WHO) region, we applied a constant incidence model to pooled prevalence by age and sex to estimate the prevalence and incidence of HSV types 1 and 2 infections. For HSV type 1, we apportioned infection by anatomical site using pooled estimates of the proportions that were oral and genital. Findings In 2016, an estimated 491.5 million people (95% uncertainty interval, UI: 430.4 million–610.6 million) were living with HSV type 2 infection, equivalent to 13.2% of the world’s population aged 15–49 years. An estimated 3752.0 million people (95% UI: 3555.5 million–3854.6 million) had HSV type 1 infection at any site, equivalent to a global prevalence of 66.6% in 0–49-year-olds. Differing patterns were observed by age, sex and geographical region, with HSV type 2 prevalence being highest among women and in the WHO African Region. Conclusion An estimated half a billion people had genital infection with HSV type 2 or type 1, and several billion had oral HSV type 1 infection. Millions of people may also be at higher risk of acquiring human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), particularly women in the WHO African Region who have the highest HSV type 2 prevalence and exposure to HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte James
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, England
| | | | - Nicky J Welton
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, England
| | | | | | - Sami L Gottlieb
- Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Katharine J Looker
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, England
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McInnis PM, Braund TA, Chua ZK, Kozlowska K. Stress-system activation in children with chronic pain: A focus for clinical intervention. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2020; 25:78-97. [PMID: 31364391 DOI: 10.1177/1359104519864994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence indicates that psychological and neurophysiological processes interconnect and interact to activate the body's stress system and to trigger and maintain functional somatic symptoms. This study used the Early Life Stress Questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and biological markers (heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance, C-reactive protein (CRP) titre, respiratory rate, and accuracy and reaction time in an emotion-face identification task), to examine childhood adversity, psychological distress and stress-system activation in 35 children and adolescents (23 girls and 12 boys, 9-17 years old) disabled by chronic pain (vs two groups of age- and sex-matched healthy controls). Patients reported more early-life stress (U = 798.5, p = .026) and more psychological distress (U = 978, p < .001). They showed activation of the autonomic system: elevated heart rate (U = 862.5, p = .003), elevated electrodermal activity (U = 804.5, p = .024) and lower heart rate variability in the time domain (U = 380.5, p = .007) and frequency domain (U = 409.5, p = .017). The group showed an upward shift of CRP titres (with 75th and 90th CRP percentiles of 4.5 and 10.5 mg/L, respectively), suggesting the activation of the immune-inflammatory system. Elevated CRP titres were associated with elevated heart rate (p = .028). There were no differences in respiratory rate or in accuracy and reaction time in the emotion-face identification task. The results indicate that interventions for children and adolescents with chronic pain need a multidisciplinary mind-body approach that concurrently addresses psychological distress, physical impairment and stress-system dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M McInnis
- Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia
| | - Taylor A Braund
- Total Brain, Australia.,Brain Dynamics Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Zhi Kai Chua
- Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia
| | - Kasia Kozlowska
- Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia.,Brain Dynamics Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Australia.,Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia
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Kozlowska K, Chung J, Cruickshank B, McLean L, Scher S, Dale RC, Mohammad SS, Singh-Grewal D, Prabhuswamy MY, Patrick E. Blood CRP levels are elevated in children and adolescents with functional neurological symptom disorder. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2019; 28:491-504. [PMID: 30143887 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-018-1212-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence that patients with functional neurological symptom disorder (FND) show activation of multiple components of the stress system-the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, and brain regions involved in arousal- and emotion-processing. This study aims to examine whether the immune-inflammatory component of the stress system is also activated. C-reactive protein (CRP) blood titre levels were measured in 79 children and adolescents with FND. CRP values ≥ 2 mg/L suggest low-grade inflammation. CRP values > 10 mg/L suggest a disease process. Sixty-six percent of subjects (n = 52) had CRP titres ≥ 2 mg/L. The upward shift in the distribution of CRP levels suggested low-grade inflammation (median CRP concentration was 4.60 mg/L, with 75th and 90th percentiles of 6.1 and 10.3 mg/L, respectively). Elevated CRP titres were not explained by sex, pubertal status, BMI, or medical factors. Confounder analyses suggested that history of maltreatment (χ2 = 2.802, df = 1, p = 0.094, φ = 0.190; β = 2.823, p = 0.04) and a diagnosis of anxiety (χ2 = 2.731, df = 1, p = 0.098, φ = 0.187; β = 4.520, p = 0.061) contributed to elevated CRP levels. Future research will need to identify the origins and locations of immune cell activation and the pathways and systems contributing to their activation and modulation. Because functional activity in neurons and glial cells-the brain's innate effector immune cells-is tightly coupled, our finding of elevated CRP titres suggests activation of the immune-inflammatory component of the brain's stress system. A more direct examination of inflammation-related molecules in the brain will help clarify the role of immune-inflammatory processes in FND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasia Kozlowska
- Department Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia. .,Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia. .,Discipline of Psychiatry and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jason Chung
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bronya Cruickshank
- Department Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Loyola McLean
- Westmead Psychotherapy Program for Complex Traumatic Disorders, Western Sydney Local Health District, Building 112, Cumberland Hospital Campus, Parramatta BC, Locked Bag 7118, Parramatta, NSW, 2124, Australia.,Brain and Mind Centre, and Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen Scher
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA.,Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Russell C Dale
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Movement Disorder and Clinical Neuroimmunology Group, Institute for Neuroscience and Muscle Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Shekeeb S Mohammad
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia
| | - Davinder Singh-Grewal
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Rheumatology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Maternal Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mukesh Yajaman Prabhuswamy
- Department Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, NSW, 2145, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Ellis Patrick
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sydney, F07 - Carslaw Building, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.,Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Chudleigh C, Savage B, Cruz C, Lim M, McClure G, Palmer DM, Spooner CJ, Kozlowska K. Use of respiratory rates and heart rate variability in the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with functional somatic symptoms. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2019; 24:29-39. [PMID: 30354283 DOI: 10.1177/1359104518807742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) emerge when the stress system is activated in response to physical or emotional stress that is either chronic or especially intense. In such cases, the heightened state of physiological arousal and motor activation can be measured through biological markers. Our team have integrated the use of biological markers of body state - respiratory rate, heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements - as a way of helping families to understand how physical symptoms can signal activation of the body's stress systems. This study measured respiratory rates, HR and HRV in children and adolescents with FSS (and healthy controls) during baseline assessment to determine whether these biological markers were effective at differentiating patients with FSS. The study also implemented a biofeedback intervention during the assessment to determine whether patients with FSS were able to slow their respiratory rates and increase HRV. Patients with FSS had faster respiratory rates, faster HR, and lower HRV, suggesting activation of the autonomic nervous system coupled with activation of the respiratory motor system. Like controls, patients were able to slow their respiratory rates, but in contrast to controls, they were unable to increase their HRV. Our findings suggest that patients with FSS present in a state of physiological activation and struggle to regulate their body state. Patients with FSS are likely to need ongoing training and practice to regulate body state coupled with interventions that target regulatory capacity across multiple systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Chudleigh
- 1 Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Blanche Savage
- 1 Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Catherine Cruz
- 1 Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Melissa Lim
- 1 Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Georgia McClure
- 1 Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Donna M Palmer
- 2 Brain Dynamics Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia.,3 The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Kasia Kozlowska
- 1 Department of Psychological Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia.,2 Brain Dynamics Centre, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, NSW, Australia.,3 The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
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