Genetic factors may help to identify Fibromyalgia

This reads like a huge break through but will such tests and the aknowledgment of physical basis for fibromyalgia filter down to the GP surgery level?

May genetic factors in fibromyalgia help to identify patients with
differentially altered frequencies of immune cells?

Clin Exp Immunol. 2008 Dec;154(3):346-52.

Carvalho LS, Correa H, Silva GC, Campos FS, Baião FR, Ribeiro LS,
Faria AM, d'Avila Reis D.

Department of Morphology, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.

PMID: 19037919


There is common agreement that fibromyalgia (FM) is an extremely
heterogeneous entity. Patients differ in their clinical symptoms,
endocrine and immune parameters. In this study we evaluated endocrine
and immunological features of distinct subsets of FM patients.

In contrast to previous attempts to identify subsets of FM patients,
based solely on their psychological and cognitive features, herein we
propose to separate FM patients by genetic features. Allelic
expression of the polymorphic promoter region of the serotonin
transporter (5-HTTLPR) was analysed as a relevant genetic factor for
FM. Seventy-five patients meeting the American College of
Rheumatology criteria and 27 healthy age-matched controls
participated in this study. All controls and FM patients were
submitted to genotyping of 5-HTTLPR. Twenty-seven FM patients, who
were able to discontinue hypnotic, sedative or psychotropic
prescription medications for at least 2 weeks, were then subdivided
into L (homozygote LL) or S groups (genotypes LS and SS). They were
evaluated for salivary cortisol levels, absolute number of leucocyte
subpopulations, including natural killer (NK) cells and activated T
and B lymphocytes.

Both groups presented decreased cortisol levels, more intense in the
L group, increased all B lymphocytes subsets and reduced
CD4(+)CD25(high) T lymphocytes. The L group had increased
CD4(+)CD25(low) activated T lymphocytes, while the S group displayed
elevated CD4(+)human leucocyte antigen D-related (HLA-DR)(+)
activated T lymphocytes and decreased NK cells.

We demonstrate that genetic factors may help to identify FM
individuals with differentially altered frequencies of immune cells.