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Zheng Y, Hou Z, Ma S, Huang Z, Peng J, Huang S, Guo R, Huang J, Lin Z, Zhuang Z, Yin J, Xie L. Altered dynamic functional network connectivity in rheumatoid arthritis associated with peripheral inflammation and neuropsychiatric disorders. RMD Open 2024; 10:e003684. [PMID: 38428977 PMCID: PMC10910624 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored the dynamic functional connective (DFC) alterations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigated the correlation between the neuropsychiatric symptoms, peripheral inflammation and DFC alterations. METHOD Using resting-state functional MRI, we investigated the DFC based on spatial independent component analysis and sliding window method for 30 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls (HCs). The Spearman correlation was calculated between aberrant DFC alterations, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), C reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Diagnostic efficacy of indicators was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC). RESULTS Three dynamic functional states were identified. Compared with HC, patients with RA showed reduced FC variabilities between sensorimotor network (SMN) and insula, SMN and orbitofrontal cortex, which were the crucial regions of sensory processing network. The above FC variabilities were correlated with the MoCA, HAD, CRP and ESR in patients with RA. Additionally, the CRP and ESR were negatively correlated to MoCA and positively related to HAD in patients with RA. The ROC analysis results showed that MoCA, HAD and FC variabilities of the sensory processing network could distinguish patients with RA from HC and also identify patients with RA with high ESR. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that abnormal DFC patterns in sensory processing networks in patients with RA were closely associated with peripheral inflammation and neuropsychiatric symptoms. This indicates that the dynamic temporal characteristics of the brain functional network may be potential neuroimaging biomarkers for revealing the pathological mechanism of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Zheng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhiduo Hou
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shuhua Ma
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zikai Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jianhua Peng
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shuxin Huang
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ruiwei Guo
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jinzhuang Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhirong Lin
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zelin Zhuang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jingjing Yin
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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Zheng Y, Xie L, Huang Z, Peng J, Huang S, Guo R, Huang J, Lin Z, Zhuang Z, Yin J, Hou Z, Ma S. Functional dysconnectivity and microstructural impairment of the cortico-thalamo-cortical network in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A multimodal MRI study. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24725. [PMID: 38304809 PMCID: PMC10830510 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cognitive deficits are common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the effective connectivity and structural alterations of the core brain regions in RA patients with cognitive impairment. Methods Twenty-four female patients with RA and twenty-four healthy controls were enrolled. We analyzed abnormal brain activity patterns using functional MRI during the Iowa gambling task (IGT) and core regions effective connectivity using dynamic causal model (DCM). Structural alterations of white matter volume (WMV) and gray matter volume (GMV) were detected using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). Results RA patients showed altered activation patterns of the cortico-thalamo-cortical network, increased coupling strength from the left ventromedial prefrontal gyrus to the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the ACC to the right thalamus, and decreased connectivity from the thalamus to left hippocampus. VBM structural analysis showed increased GMV in the bilateral orbital frontal gyrus, bilateral hippocampus and right putamen, and reduced GMV and WMV in the bilateral thalamus in RA patients. Right thalamic GMV and WMV were positively correlated with the right thalamus-to-hippocampus connective strength. Additionally, the bold signal, GMV and WMV of the right thalamus were positively correlated with cognitive performance (IGT score) in RA patients. Conclusion Results suggest a structural and functional deficiency in the cortico-thalamo-cortical network, which is characterized by increased ACC-to-thalamus strength and reduced thalamus-to-hippocampus coupling in RA patients. The cognitive dysfunction may be the result of compensatory measures against imbalanced cortico-thalamic-cortical coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmin Zheng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Lei Xie
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zikai Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jianhua Peng
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shuxin Huang
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ruiwei Guo
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jinzhuang Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhirong Lin
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zelin Zhuang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jingjing Yin
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhiduo Hou
- Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shuhua Ma
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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Goldenberg DL. Applying Lessons From Rheumatology to Better Understand Long COVID. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2024; 76:49-56. [PMID: 37525488 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Long COVID can sometimes be attributed to organ damage and well-characterized pathophysiology, but more often there is no evidence of organ damage or abnormal biomarkers. This is most evident in patients with mild to moderate initial SARS-CoV-2 infection who were not hospitalized. Their persistent symptoms are strikingly similar to those of fibromyalgia and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, including fatigue, post-exertional malaise, myalgias/arthralgias, and sleep and cognitive disturbances in 50% to 100% of cases. Analogous pathophysiologic pathways in fibromyalgia (FM), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and long COVID include host-microbial interactions in the absence of direct tissue invasion and absence of systemic autoimmunity, with evidence for immune dysregulation as well as autonomic, peripheral, and central nervous system dysfunction. Current treatment of long COVID has been based on multidisciplinary management recommended for FM and ME/CFS and has been formalized and made widely available by funding for nationwide long COVID clinics. Long COVID and its treatment should be distinguished by the presence or absence of organ damage. The acknowledged role of patient engagement in research and open dialogue regarding work and disability noted in long COVID may have meaningful impact on patients with FM and ME/CFS. Hopefully, advances in basic long COVID research will aid in understanding FM and ME/CFS, and rheumatologists should thus be involved in such research and patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don L Goldenberg
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, and Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland
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Tu Y, Li Z, Xiong F, Gao F. Decreased DTI-ALPS and choroid plexus enlargement in fibromyalgia: a preliminary multimodal MRI study. Neuroradiology 2023; 65:1749-1755. [PMID: 37870589 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-023-03240-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The glymphatic system is a fluid exchange pathway that clears waste products that is crucial for the maintenance of brain homeostasis. However, the exact role it plays in the emergence of fibromyalgia (FM) is still not fully understood. Here, we explored the changes in non-invasive MRI proxy probably related to the glymphatic function in FM patients, and explored brain-behavior relationships. METHODS A total of 40 participants, consisting of 20 individuals with FM and 20 healthy controls (HCs), were included in the study. The participants underwent structural T1-weighted MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and clinical assessment. The data was obtained from an open access dataset. The study compared non-invasive MRI indices, including choroid plexus (CP) volume and DTI analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS), between the FM and HC groups. Furthermore, correlation analysis was conducted to determine the correlation between clinical parameters and both CP volume and DTI-ALPS index. RESULTS Patients with FM had significantly higher CP volume and a lower DTI-ALPS index than HCs adjusting for age and intracranial volume. Higher CP volume was associated with lower DTI-ALPS index, and longer disease duration. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate aberrant glymphatic function in FM, and that dysfunction in the brain glymphatic system may play a role in the neural mechanisms underlying FM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Tu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Xiong
- Department of Radiology, PLA Central Theater General Hospital, Wuhan, China.
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Geriatric Anesthesia and Perioperative Brain Health, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Anesthesia, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Martucci KT, Karshikoff B, Mackey SC. Links between brain neuroimaging and blood inflammatory markers in urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Physiol Behav 2023; 271:114358. [PMID: 37769862 PMCID: PMC10599305 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2023.114358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome (UCPPS) is a debilitating painful condition with unclear etiology. Prior researchers have indicated that compared to healthy controls, patients with UCPPS demonstrated altered brain activity. Researchers have also shown that in UCPPS, several blood inflammatory markers relate to clinical variables of pain, fatigue, and pain widespreadness. However, how altered brain function in patients with UCPPS relates to blood inflammation remains unknown. To extend and connect prior findings of altered brain function and inflammatory factors in UCPPS, we conducted a secondary analysis of data from a cohort of UCPPS patients (N = 29) and healthy controls (N = 31) who provided both neuroimaging and blood data (National Institute of Health MAPP Research Network publicly available dataset). In our present study, we aimed to evaluate relationships between a priori-defined brain neuroimaging markers and inflammatory factors of interest and their relationships to pain-psychological variables. We hypothesized that two brain alterations of interest (i.e., PCC - left hippocampus functional connectivity and PCC - bilateral amygdala functional connectivity) would be correlated with four cytokine markers of interest: interleukin (IL) - 6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), IL-8, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In the UCPPS cohort, we identified a significant PCC - left hippocampus functional connectivity relationship with IL-6 (p = 0.0044). Additionally, in the UCPPS cohort, we identified a PCC - amygdala functional connectivity relationship with GM-CSF which did not meet our model's threshold for statistical significance (p = 0.0665). While these data are preliminary and cross-sectional, our findings suggest connections between brain function and levels of low-grade systemic inflammation in UCPPS. Thus, while further study is needed, our data indicate the potential for advancing the understanding of how brain functional circuits may relate to clinical symptoms and systemic inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine T Martucci
- Human Affect and Pain Neuroscience Laboratory, Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
| | - Bianka Karshikoff
- UiS Biopsychology Research Group, Department of Social Studies, Stavanger University, Stavanger, Norway; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Sean C Mackey
- Stanford Neuroscience and Pain Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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Murphy AE, Minhas D, Clauw DJ, Lee YC. Identifying and Managing Nociplastic Pain in Individuals With Rheumatic Diseases: A Narrative Review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2023; 75:2215-2222. [PMID: 36785994 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a burdensome and prevalent symptom in individuals with rheumatic disease. The International Association for the Study of Pain classifies pain into 3 descriptive categories: nociceptive, neuropathic, and nociplastic. These categories are intended to provide information about the mechanisms underlying the pain, which can then serve as targets for drug or non-drug treatments. This review describes the 3 types of pain as they relate to patients seen by rheumatology health care providers. The focus is on identifying individuals with nociplastic pain, which can either occur in isolation as in fibromyalgia, or as a comorbidity in individuals with primary autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Practical information about how rheumatology health care providers can approach and manage chronic pain is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deeba Minhas
- University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | | | - Yvonne C Lee
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
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Staud R, Godfrey MM, Stroman PW. Nociplastic pain: the wolf in sheep's clothing. Comment on the article by Sunzini et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023. [PMID: 37651266 DOI: 10.1002/art.42685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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Straub RH, Pongratz G, Buttgereit F, Gaber T. [Energy metabolism of the immune system : Consequences in chronic inflammation]. Z Rheumatol 2023:10.1007/s00393-023-01389-4. [PMID: 37488246 DOI: 10.1007/s00393-023-01389-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Energy is the currency of life. The systemic and intracellular energy metabolism plays an essential role for the energy supply of the resting and activated immune system and this also applies to chronic inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE This presentation examines both components of the systemic and cellular energy metabolism in health and chronic inflammation. MATERIAL AND METHODS A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. The information is presented in the form of a narrative review. RESULTS A chronically activated immune system acquires large amounts of energy-rich substrates that are lost for other functions of the body. In particular, the immune system and the brain are in competition. The consequences of this competition are many known diseases, such as fatigue, anxiety, depression, anorexia, sleep problems, sarcopenia, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, hypertension and others. The permanent change in the brain causes long-term alterations that stimulate disease sequelae even after disease remission. In the intracellular energy supply, chronic inflammation typically involves a conversion to glycolysis (to lactate, which has its own regulatory functions) and the pentose phosphate pathway in disorders of mitochondrial function. The chronic changes in immune cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lead to a disruption of the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle). The hypoxic situation in the inflamed tissue stimulates many alterations. A differentiation is made between effector functions and regulatory functions of immune cells. CONCLUSION Based on the energy changes mentioned, novel treatment suggestions can be made in addition to those already known in energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer H Straub
- Labor für Experimentelle Rheumatologie und Neuroendokrin-Immunologie, Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, 93042, Regensburg, Deutschland.
| | - Georg Pongratz
- Abteilung für Rheumatologie, Klinik für Gastroenterologie, Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder Regensburg, 93049, Regensburg, Deutschland
| | - Frank Buttgereit
- Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Timo Gaber
- Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
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9
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Sunzini F, Schrepf A, Clauw DJ, Basu N. The Biology of Pain: Through the Rheumatology Lens. Arthritis Rheumatol 2023; 75:650-660. [PMID: 36599071 DOI: 10.1002/art.42429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Chronic pain is a major socioeconomic burden globally. The most frequent origin of chronic pain is musculoskeletal. In inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic pain is a primary determinant of deleterious quality of life. The pivotal role of peripheral inflammation in the initiation and perpetuation of nociceptive pain is well-established among patients with musculoskeletal diseases. However, the persistence of pain, even after the apparent resolution of peripheral inflammation, alludes to the coexistence of different pain states. Recent advances in neurobiology have highlighted the importance of nociplastic pain mechanisms. In this review we aimed to explore the biology of pain with a particular focus on nociplastic pain in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Sunzini
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew Schrepf
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Daniel J Clauw
- Department of Anesthesiology, Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
| | - Neil Basu
- Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, UK
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Lenert ME, Szabo-Pardi TA, Burton MD. Regulatory T-cells and IL-5 mediate pain outcomes in a preclinical model of chronic muscle pain. Mol Pain 2023; 19:17448069221110691. [PMID: 35712872 PMCID: PMC9926397 DOI: 10.1177/17448069221110691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic musculoskeletal pain disorder primarily diagnosed in women. Historically, clinical literature focusing on cytokines and immune cells has been inconsistent. However, recent key studies show several layers of immune system dysfunction in FM. Preclinically, studies of the immune system have focused on monocytes with little focus on other immune cells. Importantly, T-cells are implicated in the development and resolution of chronic pain states, particularly in females. Our previous work showed that monocytes from women with FM produced more interleukin 5 (IL-5) and systemic treatment of IL-5 reversed mechanical hypersensitivity in a preclinical model of FM. Typically, IL-5 is produced by TH2-cells, so in this study we assessed T-cell populations and cytokine production in female mice using the acid-induced chronic muscle pain model of FM before and after treatment with IL-5. Two unilateral injections of pH4.0 saline, five days apart, into the gastrocnemius muscle induce long-lasting widespread pain. We found that peripheral (blood) regulatory Thelper-cells (CD4+ FOXP3+) are downregulated in pH4.0-injected mice, with no differences in tissue (lymph nodes) or CD8+ T-cell populations. We tested the analgesic properties of IL-5 using a battery of spontaneous and evoked pain measures. Interestingly, IL-5 treatment induced place preference in mice previously injected with pH4.0 saline. Mice treated with IL-5 show limited changes in T-cell populations compared to controls, with a rescue in regulatory T-cells which positively correlates with improved mechanical hypersensitivity. The experiments in this study provide novel evidence that downregulation of regulatory T-cells play a role in chronic muscle pain pathology in the acidic saline model of FM and that IL-5 signaling is a promising target for future development of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael D Burton
- Michael D Burton, Neuroimmunology and Behavior Lab, Department of Neuroscience, School of Brain and Behavioral Science, Center for Advanced Pain Studies, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., BSB 10.546, Richardson, TX 75080, USA.
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Pan TT, Gao W, Song ZH, Long DD, Cao P, Hu R, Chen DY, Zhou WJ, Jin Y, Hu SS, Wei W, Chai XQ, Zhang Z, Wang D. Glutamatergic neurons and myeloid cells in the anterior cingulate cortex mediate secondary hyperalgesia in chronic joint inflammatory pain. Brain Behav Immun 2022; 101:62-77. [PMID: 34973395 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Ting Pan
- Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Wei Gao
- Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Zi-Hua Song
- Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China; Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Dan-Dan Long
- Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Rui Hu
- Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Dan-Yang Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Wen-Jie Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Yan Jin
- Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Shan-Shan Hu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Chai
- Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China; Department of Neurobiology, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, PR China
| | - Di Wang
- Pain Clinic, Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China.
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Sandström A, Ellerbrock I, Löfgren M, Altawil R, Bileviciute-Ljungar I, Lampa J, Kosek E. Distinct aberrations in cerebral pain processing differentiating patients with fibromyalgia from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Pain 2022; 163:538-547. [PMID: 34224497 PMCID: PMC8832547 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The current study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to directly compare disease-relevant cerebral pain processing in well-characterized patient cohorts of fibromyalgia (FM, nociplastic pain) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA, nociceptive pain). Secondary aims were to identify pain-related cerebral alterations related to the severity of clinical symptoms such as pain intensity, depression, and anxiety. Twenty-six patients with FM (without RA-comorbidity) and 31 patients with RA (without FM-comorbidity) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while stimulated with subjectively calibrated painful pressures corresponding to a pain sensation of 50 mm on a 100-mm visual analogue scale. Stimulation sites were at the most inflamed proximal interphalangeal joint in the left hand in patients with RA and the left thumbnail in patients with FM, 2 sites that have previously been shown to yield the same brain activation in healthy controls. The current results revealed disease-distinct differences during pain modulation in RA and FM. Specifically, in response to painful stimulation, patients with FM compared to patients with RA exhibited increased brain activation in bilateral inferior parietal lobe (IPL), left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG)/ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) encapsulating left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and right IFG/vlPFC. However, patients with RA compared to patients with FM exhibited increased functional connectivity (during painful stimulation) between right and left IPL and sensorimotor network and between left IPL and frontoparietal network. Within the FM group only, anxiety scores positively correlated with pain-related brain activation in left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and right IFG/vlPFC, which further highlights the complex interaction between affective (ie, anxiety scores) and sensory (ie, cerebral pain processing) dimensions in this patient group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Sandström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Isabel Ellerbrock
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Monika Löfgren
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Reem Altawil
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jon Lampa
- Department of Medicine, Rheumatology Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Kosek
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Neuroradiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Surgical Sciences/Pain Research, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Gholami-mahtaj L, Salimi M, Nazari M, Tabasi F, Bamdad S, Dehdar K, Mikaili M, Mahdaviani SA, Salari F, Lookzadeh S, Jamaati H, Salimi A, Raoufy MR. Asthma Induces Psychiatric Impairments in Association With Default Mode and Salience Networks Alteration: A Resting-state EEG Study. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2022.103870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Upadhyay J, Lemme J, Cay M, Van Der Heijden H, Sibai D, Goodlett B, Lo J, Hoyt K, Taylor M, Hazen MM, Halyabar O, Meidan E, Schreiber R, Chang MH, Nigrovic PA, Jaimes C, Henderson LA, Ecklund K, Sundel RP. A multidisciplinary assessment of pain in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2021; 51:700-711. [PMID: 34139523 PMCID: PMC9741862 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2021.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pain is prevalent in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Unknowns regarding the biological drivers of pain complicate therapeutic targeting. We employed neuroimaging to define pain-related neurobiological features altered in JIA. METHODS 16 male and female JIA patients (12.7 ± 2.8 years of age) on active treatment were enrolled, together with age- and sex-matched controls. Patients were assessed using physical examination, clinical questionnaires, musculoskeletal MRI, and structural neuroimaging. In addition, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were collected during the resting-state, hand-motor task performance, and cold stimulation of the hand and knee. RESULTS Patients with and without pain and with and without inflammation (joint and systemic) were evaluated. Pain severity was associated with more physical stress and poorer cognitive function. Corrected for multiple comparisons, morphological analysis revealed decreased cortical thickness within the insula cortex and a negative correlation between caudate nucleus volume and pain severity. Functional neuroimaging findings suggested alteration within neurocircuitry structures regulating emotional pain processing (anterior insula) in addition to the default-mode and sensorimotor networks. CONCLUSIONS Patients with JIA may exhibit changes in neurobiological circuits related to pain. These preliminary findings suggest mechanisms by which pain could potentially become dissociated from detectable joint pathology and persist independently of inflammation or treatment status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaymin Upadhyay
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Jordan Lemme
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariesa Cay
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Hanne Van Der Heijden
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Section Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Faculty of Science, Biomedical Sciences Neurobiology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Diana Sibai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Goodlett
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffery Lo
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kacie Hoyt
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maria Taylor
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Melissa M Hazen
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olha Halyabar
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Esra Meidan
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rudy Schreiber
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Section Neuropsychology & Psychopharmacology Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Margaret H Chang
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter A Nigrovic
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camilo Jaimes
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A Henderson
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kirsten Ecklund
- Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert P Sundel
- Division of Immunology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Mawla I, Ichesco E, Zöllner HJ, Edden RAE, Chenevert T, Buchtel H, Bretz MD, Sloan H, Kaplan CM, Harte SE, Mashour GA, Clauw DJ, Napadow V, Harris RE. Greater Somatosensory Afference With Acupuncture Increases Primary Somatosensory Connectivity and Alleviates Fibromyalgia Pain via Insular γ-Aminobutyric Acid: A Randomized Neuroimaging Trial. Arthritis Rheumatol 2021; 73:1318-1328. [PMID: 33314799 DOI: 10.1002/art.41620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Acupuncture is a complex multicomponent treatment that has shown promise in the treatment of fibromyalgia (FM). However, clinical trials have shown mixed results, possibly due to heterogeneous methodology and lack of understanding of the underlying mechanism of action. The present study was undertaken to understand the specific contribution of somatosensory afference to improvements in clinical pain, and the specific brain circuits involved. METHODS Seventy-six patients with FM were randomized to receive either electroacupuncture (EA), with somatosensory afference, or mock laser acupuncture (ML), with no somatosensory afference, twice a week over 8 treatments. Patients with FM in each treatment group were assessed for pain severity levels, measured using Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) scores, and for levels of functional brain network connectivity, assessed using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the right anterior insula, before and after treatment. RESULTS Fibromyalgia patients who received EA therapy experienced a greater reduction in pain severity, as measured by the BPI, compared to patients who received ML therapy (mean difference in BPI from pre- to posttreatment was -1.14 in the EA group versus -0.46 in the ML group; P for group × time interaction = 0.036). Participants receiving EA treatment, as compared to ML treatment, also exhibited resting functional connectivity between the primary somatosensory cortical representation of the leg (S1leg ; i.e. primary somatosensory subregion activated by EA) and the anterior insula. Increased S1leg -anterior insula connectivity was associated with both reduced levels of pain severity as measured by the BPI (r = -0.44, P = 0.01) and increased levels of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA+) in the anterior insula (r = 0.48, P = 0.046) following EA therapy. Moreover, increased levels of GABA+ in the anterior insula were associated with reduced levels of pain severity as measured by the BPI (r = -0.59, P = 0.01). Finally, post-EA treatment changes in levels of GABA+ in the anterior insula mediated the relationship between changes in S1leg -anterior insula connectivity and pain severity on the BPI (bootstrap confidence interval -0.533, -0.037). CONCLUSION The somatosensory component of acupuncture modulates primary somatosensory functional connectivity associated with insular neurochemistry to reduce pain severity in FM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Helge J Zöllner
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Richard A E Edden
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vitaly Napadow
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Pedard M, Quirié A, Tessier A, Garnier P, Totoson P, Demougeot C, Marie C. A reconciling hypothesis centred on brain-derived neurotrophic factor to explain neuropsychiatric manifestations in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:1608-1619. [PMID: 33313832 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovitis leading to joint destruction, pain and disability. Despite efficient antirheumatic drugs, neuropsychiatric troubles including depression and cognitive dysfunction are common in RA but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. However, converging evidence strongly suggests that deficit in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signalling contributes to impaired cognition and depression. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge on BDNF in RA, proposes possible mechanisms linking RA and brain BDNF deficiency including neuroinflammation, cerebral endothelial dysfunction and sedentary behaviour, and discusses neuromuscular electrical stimulation as an attractive therapeutic option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Pedard
- INSERM U1093, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, F-21000, France
| | - Aurore Quirié
- INSERM U1093, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, F-21000, France
| | - Anne Tessier
- INSERM U1093, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, F-21000, France
| | - Philippe Garnier
- INSERM U1093, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, F-21000, France
| | - Perle Totoson
- EA4267 PEPITE, FHU INCREASE, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, F-25030, France
| | - Céline Demougeot
- EA4267 PEPITE, FHU INCREASE, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Besançon, F-25030, France
| | - Christine Marie
- INSERM U1093, Univ. Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, F-21000, France
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Iyer P, Lee YC. Why It Hurts: The Mechanisms of Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2021; 47:229-244. [PMID: 33781492 DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pain is a near-universal feature of rheumatoid arthritis, but peripheral joint inflammation may not suffice to explain the etiology of pain in all patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis releases several algogens that may generate pain. Also, central nervous system processes may play a crucial role in the regulation and perpetuation of pain. Several methods for assessing pain in rheumatoid arthritis exist, and recently the role of assessing therapeutics in treating specific etiologies of pain has gained interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Iyer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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Casale R, Atzeni F, Bazzichi L, Beretta G, Costantini E, Sacerdote P, Tassorelli C. Pain in Women: A Perspective Review on a Relevant Clinical Issue that Deserves Prioritization. Pain Ther 2021; 10:287-314. [PMID: 33723717 DOI: 10.1007/s40122-021-00244-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Gender equity and gender medicine are opportunities not to be missed, and this Expert Group Opinion Paper on pain in women aims to review the treatment of pain conditions mainly affecting women, as well as the fundamental aspects of the different clinical response to drug treatment between the genders, and what can be done for gender-specific rehabilitation. Methods Perspective review. Results Genotypic and phenotypic differences in pain between the sexes are conditioned by anatomical, physiological, neural, hormonal, psychological, social, and cultural factors, such as the response to pharmacological treatment to control pain. The examination of these factors shows that women are affected by pain diseases more frequently and severely than men and that they report pain more frequently and with a lower pain threshold than men. Some forms of pain are inherently related to gender differences, such as pain related to the genitourinary system. However, other forms of chronic pain are seen more frequently in women than men, such as migraine, rheumatological, and musculoskeletal pain, in particular fibromyalgia. Discussion Research is needed into the pathophysiological basis for gender differences in the generation of acute pain and maintenance of chronic pain, including the factors that put women at higher risk for developing chronic pain. In addition, different specialties need to collaborate to develop gender-related diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines, and healthcare professionals need to upskill themselves in the appropriate management of pain using existing diagnostic tools and therapeutic options.
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