Fibromyalgia and unexplained widespread pain: The idiopathic cerebrospinal pressure dysregulation hypothesis.

Abstract:

:Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating, widespread pain disorder that is assumed to originate from inappropriate pain processing in the central nervous system. Psychological and behavioral factors are both believed to underlie the pathogenesis and complicate the treatment. This hypothesis, however, has not yet been sufficiently supported by scientific evidence and accumulating evidence supports a peripheral neurological origin of the symptoms. We postulate that FM and several unexplained widespread pain syndromes are caused by chronic postural idiopathic cerebrospinal hypertension. Thus, the symptoms originate from the filling of nerve root sleeves under high pressure with subsequent polyradiculopathy from the compression of the nerve root fibers (axons) inside the sleeves. Associated symptoms, such as bladder and bowel dysfunction, result from compression of the sacral nerve root fibers, and facial pain and paresthesia result from compression of the cranial nerve root fibers. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and the clinical entity of symptomatic Tarlov cysts share similar central and peripheral neurological symptoms and are likely other manifestations of the same condition. The hypothesis presented in this article links the characteristics of fibromyalgia and unexplained widespread pain to cerebrospinal pressure dysregulation with support from scientific evidence and provides a conclusive explanation for the multitude of symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

journal_name

Med Hypotheses

journal_title

Medical hypotheses

authors

Hulens M,Dankaerts W,Stalmans I,Somers A,Vansant G,Rasschaert R,Bruyninckx F

doi

10.1016/j.mehy.2017.12.006

subject

Has Abstract

pub_date

2018-01-01 00:00:00

pages

150-154

eissn

0306-9877

issn

1532-2777

pii

S0306-9877(17)30626-6

journal_volume

110

pub_type

杂志文章
  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan plus SSRIs for interferon-induced depression: synergistic mechanisms for normalizing synaptic serotonin.

    abstract::Interferon-alpha (IFN) is widely used in the treatment of certain cancers and viral infections, including hepatitis C (HCV). Unfortunately, depression is a common side effect of IFN therapy, affecting approximately a third of HCV patients receiving IFN therapy. Studies have shown that selective serotonin reuptake inhi...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.01.026

    authors: Turner EH,Blackwell AD

    更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00

  • Can free radicals induce coronary vasospasm and acute myocardial infarction?

    abstract::Spontaneous acute occlusion of the coronary artery produces regional myocardial ischemia and infarction. This coronary occlusion could be due to rapid progression of atherosclerosis or vasospasm. The factors that can precipitate an acute attack of myocardial infarction or coronary spasm are not known. It is proposed t...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(92)90147-5

    authors: Das UN

    更新日期:1992-09-01 00:00:00

  • Neurotransmitter depletion may be a cause of dementia pathology rather than an effect.

    abstract:BACKGROUND:There is widespread loss of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. It has generally been assumed that death of neurons causes neurotransmitter loss, but alternatively neurotransmitter depletion itself may at least contribute to neurodegeneration. PRESENTATION...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2006.02.043

    authors: Alisky JM

    更新日期:2006-01-01 00:00:00

  • Leukaemogenesis: a postulated mechanism involving tyrosine protein kinase and DNA topoisomerase.

    abstract::The weight of available evidence suggests that leukaemogenesis is a multi-step, complex process. Since there are different types of leukaemia, it seems likely that a variety of distinct molecular mechanisms are involved, arising from different combinations of genetic defects. It is not therefore surprising that studie...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(87)90188-5

    authors: Francis GE

    更新日期:1987-03-01 00:00:00

  • Etiology of sporadic Alzheimer's disease: somatostatin, neprilysin, and amyloid beta peptide.

    abstract::We recently demonstrated that amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) is catabolized primarily by a neutral endopeptidase, neprilysin, in the brain and that a neuropeptide, somatostatin (SST), regulates brain Abeta level via modulation of neprilysin activity. Because SST expression in the brain declines upon aging in various mam...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2005.02.045

    authors: Hama E,Saido TC

    更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00

  • Simplifying the complexity of cell signaling in medicine and the life sciences: radicals and electrochemistry.

    abstract::There have been various comments on the complexity of cell signaling and the need for simplification. Recently, new mechanics was proposed by Hlavacek and Faeder as a means of achieving this goal. Some of the important tenets include: (1) phosphorylation of nearby phosphorylation sites is likely to be cooperative and ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 社论

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.032

    authors: Kovacic P

    更新日期:2010-05-01 00:00:00

  • Elimination communication as colic therapy.

    abstract::Colic is generally defined as excessive crying in early infancy and can have negative consequences on the infant as well as on the infant's family life. Excessive crying can result in escalating parental stress levels, abusive caregiver response, increased risk of shaken baby syndrome and parental postpartum depressio...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2014.05.018

    authors: Jordan GJ

    更新日期:2014-09-01 00:00:00

  • Burnout syndrome in Romanian medical residents in time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    abstract::Burnout is a state of physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress. Burnout during residency training has gained significant attention secondary to concerns regarding job performance and patient care. The new COVID-19 pandemic has raised public health problems around the world and required a reorganization...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109972

    authors: Dimitriu MCT,Pantea-Stoian A,Smaranda AC,Nica AA,Carap AC,Constantin VD,Davitoiu AM,Cirstoveanu C,Bacalbasa N,Bratu OG,Jacota-Alexe F,Badiu CD,Smarandache CG,Socea B

    更新日期:2020-11-01 00:00:00

  • Hypnosis and music interventions (HMIs) inactivate HIF-1: A potential curative efficacy for cancers and hypertension.

    abstract::Hypnosis and music interventions (HMIs) have shown positive influence on cancers for nearly 200years, but the underlying mechanisms were rarely explored systematically. The hypothesis suggests a potential curative efficacy of HMIs on cancers by inhibiting hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), which is a key mediator of ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.07.008

    authors: Wang JZ,Li L,Pan LL,Chen JH

    更新日期:2015-11-01 00:00:00

  • Adaptive and maladaptive cortisol responses to pediatric obesity.

    abstract::The recent unprecedented increase of childhood obesity has led to an alarming rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) among these children. The process underlying the progression from simple obesity to T2D is not well understood. Cortisol is a candidate factor in the pathogenesis of T2D, as it can exacerbate insulin re...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2008.04.020

    authors: Soros A,Zadik Z,Chalew S

    更新日期:2008-09-01 00:00:00

  • Prediction of neuropathy, neuropathic pain and kinesiophobia in patients with type 2 diabetes and design of computerized clinical decision support systems by using artificial intelligence.

    abstract::Exercise is a key component for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, diabetes complications affect exercise habits. Computerized clinical decision support systems (CCDSSs) may help specialists improve their decision-making abilities in the management of diseases. We hypothesized that patients' diabeti...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110070

    authors: Ozdemir F,Ari A,Kilcik MH,Hanbay D,Sahin I

    更新日期:2020-10-01 00:00:00

  • The potential importance of steroids in the treatment of autistic spectrum disorders and other disorders involving mercury toxicity.

    abstract::Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affects 1 in 150 children in the United States. Autism is characterized by impairments in social relatedness and communication, repetitive behaviors, abnormal movements, and sensory dysfunction. Recently emer...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2004.11.018

    authors: Geier MR,Geier DA

    更新日期:2005-01-01 00:00:00

  • Cryptochrome1 maybe a candidate gene of schizophrenia.

    abstract::During the last 10 years, we have witnessed major progress in the genetic study of schizophrenia, but gene-mapping efforts have been hampered by the complex mode of inheritance and the likelihood of multiple genes of small effect. In view of the complexity, it may be instructive to understand the biological bases for ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2007.02.003

    authors: Peng ZW,Chen XG,Wei Z

    更新日期:2007-01-01 00:00:00

  • Detection of hepatitis B virus transcriptional activity: an hypothesis.

    abstract::This paper outlines a method of demonstrating hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related transcriptional activity based on the random amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) protocol. Following RNA extraction from the appropriate tissue, cDNA is synthesized using a long oligo d(T) based primer containing unique 5' oligonucleotide sequ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(95)90056-x

    authors: Sallie R

    更新日期:1995-08-01 00:00:00

  • Periodontal disease and targeted prevention using aMMP-8 point-of-care oral fluid analytics in the COVID-19 era.

    abstract::Periodontal disease is a chronic multifactorial infectious and inflammatory disease associated with several chronic systemic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease and so on. These same systemic diseases have been associated w...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110276

    authors: Räisänen IT,Umeizudike KA,Pärnänen P,Heikkilä P,Tervahartiala T,Nwhator SO,Grigoriadis A,Sakellari D,Sorsa T

    更新日期:2020-11-01 00:00:00

  • A stable epoxide as a potential endogenous estrogen metabolite: Possible significance in breast cancer?

    abstract::Epoxides as reactive intermediates of estrogen metabolism have been considered to be potential precursors of the 2- and 4-hydroxy, catechol estrogens and even to be mutagenic/carcinogenic agents themselves. The labile nature of the intermediates has made proof of their existence difficult in natural biological conditi...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2016.04.012

    authors: Raeside JI

    更新日期:2016-06-01 00:00:00

  • Dermatomyositis/polymyositis associated with internal malignancy: a consequence of how neoplasms alter generalized extracellular matrix in the host.

    abstract::The mechanism of dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM) is unknown. There are multiple probable trigger mechanisms. Internal malignancy is a specific trigger for some cases of DM/PM. It is known that there are marked changes in the extracellular matrix around tumors and that various fractions of depolymerized glycosamin...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(93)90033-m

    authors: Stone OJ

    更新日期:1993-07-01 00:00:00

  • Anorexia nervosa--a noradrenergic dysregulation hypothesis.

    abstract::Anorexia nervosa manifests a wide range of features which cannot fully be explained on the basis of socio-cultural pressures to be thin, nor by starvation, nor dehydration. Evidence is emerging of a significant neurobiological contribution to its aetiology. However there has to date been no explanation for its pathoge...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.033

    authors: Nunn K,Frampton I,Lask B

    更新日期:2012-05-01 00:00:00

  • Is the role of the environment in carcinogenesis overestimated?

    abstract::The dominant role of the physical and chemical environment in the development of cancer is challenged. Analyses of the etiology of skin, bladder, respiratory and gastric cancers are presented which demonstrate the considerable extent to which one's health status may modify the initiation and promotion of environmental...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(79)90058-6

    authors: Calabrese EJ

    更新日期:1979-01-01 00:00:00

  • Methylglyoxal, advanced glycation end products and autism: is there a connection?

    abstract::Autism is a complex and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology but very likely resulting from both genetic and environmental factors. Recent estimates suggest that it affects 1 in 100-150 individuals in the US. Oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction have all been suggested ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.032

    authors: Maher P

    更新日期:2012-04-01 00:00:00

  • Reduced contractile capacity of vascular smooth muscle: another mechanism of hypertension?

    abstract::Hypertension has become a large burden of global development, but the mechanisms of it have still not been well elucidated. Increased contractility of vascular smooth cells induced by the overactivity of neurohormonal system or stress is one of the main and popular explanations until now. Smoothelin-B, recognized as t...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.01.038

    authors: Li SH,Hui RT

    更新日期:2009-07-01 00:00:00

  • Mosaic aging.

    abstract::Although all multicellular organisms undergo structural and functional deterioration with age, senescence is not a uniform process. Rather, each organism experiences a constellation of changes that reflect the heterogeneous effects of age on molecules, cells, organs and systems, an idiosyncratic pattern that we refer ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.12.031

    authors: Walker LC,Herndon JG

    更新日期:2010-06-01 00:00:00

  • Haemopoietic stem cells and basophils.

    abstract::In a recent paper it was argued that all stem cells are small motile cells, the haemopoietic stem cell being no exception. Although haemopoietic stem cells arise and mature in an extravascular milieu, they are present in small numbers in the peripheral circulation, where they have a lymphocyte-like appearance, and in ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(94)90144-9

    authors: Drummond R

    更新日期:1994-09-01 00:00:00

  • Auto T cells expressing chimeric antigen receptor derived from auto antibody might be a new treatment for osteosarcoma.

    abstract::Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone. Except for the improvement in five-year survival achieved by the adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy strategy, there are nearly no improvement for the treatment of osteosarcoma in the past 30 years, especially for the patients with metastatic disease. I...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2012.01.038

    authors: Weibo P,Zhaoming Y

    更新日期:2012-05-01 00:00:00

  • Night terrors and sudden unexplained nocturnal death.

    abstract::A high incidence of sudden unexplained nocturnal deaths has been reported among young Asian males. These deaths are known as Pokkuri in Japan, Bangungut in the Philippines and Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death in the United States. Post mortem analysis has demonstrated cardiac conduction defects in many of the victim...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(88)90071-0

    authors: Melles RB,Katz B

    更新日期:1988-06-01 00:00:00

  • Incorporating feature selection methods into a machine learning-based neonatal seizure diagnosis.

    abstract::The present study developed a feature selection (FS)-based decision support system using the electroencephalography (EEG) signals recorded from neonates with and without seizures. The study employed 10 different FS algorithms to reduce the classification cost by using fewer features and to improve the classification p...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109464

    authors: Açıkoğlu M,Tuncer SA

    更新日期:2020-02-01 00:00:00

  • Up the Tower of Psychobabel: does lexical anarchy impede research into 'psychological stress'?

    abstract::The terminology relating to 'psychological stress' is so confused and ambiguous that research in this field - and application of its results - must surely be hampered. Relevant words with conflicting usages and scientific definitions include 'stress' itself, 'stressor', 'strain', 'challenge', 'demand', 'threat', 'reso...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2009.10.043

    authors: Burton RF,Hinton JW

    更新日期:2010-04-01 00:00:00

  • Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus: an etiologic model.

    abstract::The etiology of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) is reviewed and discussed using Rothman's deterministic model for causal inference. Intercontinental comparisons, familial aggregation, seasonal variation, maternal age, breast-feeding and infectious agents are reviewed within the context of IDDM causation. Ge...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(91)90286-8

    authors: Sumburèru D

    更新日期:1991-08-01 00:00:00

  • A new concept of renal hemodynamics.

    abstract::Observations which show that urine output can vary with changes in the contour of the pulse cure, that it can even increase while the mean blood pressure falls during counterpulsation, that the well known hypertensive effect of a renal artery stenosis can also be produced by an aneurysm of the renal artery, cannot be ...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/0306-9877(78)90004-x

    authors: Gatzek WJ

    更新日期:1978-05-01 00:00:00

  • Finasteride as a potential tool to improve mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for myocardial infarction.

    abstract::Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy has emerged as a potent therapeutic strategy to improve myocardial infarction. However MSCs therapy encounters a few obstacles regarding the poor viability of the transplanted cells. Therefore, it is important to explore a strategy to enhance post-transplanted MSC viability. To ov...

    journal_title:Medical hypotheses

    pub_type: 杂志文章

    doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2011.12.021

    authors: Sharifi AM,Mottaghi S

    更新日期:2012-04-01 00:00:00