For members not aware of it, this discussion of inflammation actually began with my thread about
the evidence which does exhist of an inflammatory Immune Response System that seems to be hyperreactive, and producing inflammatory markers.
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=24&m=2756942&p=1
My ESR is always elevated in more recent years. I can't say if it was in earlier FMS years. I have come across others with fibro who also have elevated ESR.
Some use Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) to reduce unhealthy inflammation :
Recent studies have determined that ultra low doses of naltrexone have demonstrated attenuation of proinflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic superoxides by suppressive effects on microglia cells found in the CNS. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) may be an identifying marker for a fibromyalgia subgroup, those with concomitant systemic inflammation, has demonstrated a more than 80% response to LDN therapy.
http://cme.dannemiller.com/painstracts/activity.cfm?d=9-01- 2009&m=2&abstract=10
RE the links above
1.) The ACR article says there is no inflammation in the joints and tissues. It does not say there is not inflammation in the CNS or CSF/cerebral spinal fluid. (perhaps rheumatologists are more attentive to matters of skeletal/muscular systems?). Fot that matter it also does not say there is "no inflammation" in the skin, bladder, digestive system, lining of the eyelids, lungs, sinus, etc. (see the final link about
mast cells--- the mast cells patrol all of these types these places (all organs), and call for inflammatory cytokines)
2.) I cannot see any article through that link.
3.). Dr Bennett's article has many pages. I have tried to remain focused throughout. I see one sentence mentioning inflammation: "As science advanced and more was learned about
the disorder, it became evident that the kind of inflammation found in arthritic diseases is not present in FM. ". "The KIND of inflammation in arthritic diseases." That does not say there is no inflammation. Did I miss something?
4.) Mayo clinic link--- I do not see anything about
inflammation, one way or another. Not one word? That is not supportive of "no inflammation". Mayo's site had another article inthe past, saying there was no inflammation. I wrote to them in April, received confirmation on April 25, 2013 that they had received my email and were looking into it. On May 3 that article was taken down, and replaced with another, about
a completely different topic. A Mayo accupuncture article now sits at that web address.
5.) Your link to the NIH Library says this, under the heading:
"What Research Is Being Conducted on Fibromyalgia?"
"The establishment of a tissue bank of brain and spinal cord tissue to study fibromyalgia and to determine the extent to which chronic pain in fibromyalgia patients is associated with the activation of cells in the nervous system and the production of chemical messengers, called cytokines, that promote inflammation."
So far, not one of your links disputes the evidence of an inflammatory immune response system (IRS) using inflammatory cytoikines.
I would be quite surprised if anyone here has had tests looking for cytokines/Interleukins. Particularly not in your cerebro spinal fluid (CSF). I suspect no one here has ever had ( or will have?) glia or micro glias checked, in relation to FMS.
There have been studies since the nineties showing more proinflammatory cytokines and fewer antiinflammatory cytokines in depression. It has been demonstrated that the possible action of effect of antidepressants is to create more of a return to homeostasis of the cytokine immune response system(IRS). In sleep apneas there are more pro inflammatory cytokines, and I will guess that only those sleep apnea patients involved in a study ever have had cytokines tested for. It does not mean they do not have inflammatory cytokines.
If anyone wants links to those studies, I will provide them.
We know that there is three times the neuropeptide substance P found in the CSF of FMS patients, and it is also in muscles. Substance P causes Mast cells to degranulate more readily. When they do, inflammatory cytokines are chemically called to the scene. Theoharris Theoharides, Phd, at Tufts, and very knowledgable about
Mast cells, has mentioned in a recent article that some chemicals released at degranulation may even cause leaking of blood vessels in the brain.
And there is a skin pain component to this. (btw: A rodent study has shown magnesium deficiency causes more substance P.)
I believe this is one of better articles for a lay person about
all of this:
http://phoenixrising.me/archives/13083
Post Edited (Rockon) : 10/2/2013 4:31:36 AM (GMT-6)