Fibromyalgia

New research demonstrates that antibodies from patients with fibromyalgia induce sensory hypersensitivities in recipient mice, suggesting an autoimmune basis for the disease as well as new therapeutic possibilities.

Pain management can be a difficult problem for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), some of whom can experience pain similar to that reported by patients with fibromyalgia. Now, advanced imaging techniques are revealing neurobiological alterations in patients with RA that mirror those seen in fibromyalgia, hinting at new treatment possibilities.

Revised recommendations for the management of fibromyalgia have been published by a multinational EULAR working group. Applying these guidelines to clinical practice will require good clinical judgement and flexibility.