APIF, version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Autoimmunity-informed Phenotyping In patients with Fibromyalgia syndrome (APIF)
IRAS ID
240099
Contact name
Andreas Goebel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Summary of Research:
The causes of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), a widespread chronic pain condition, are currently unknown. Therapeutic methods are, therefore unsatisfactory and many patients suffer from unrelenting pain without relief. FMS is associated with additional symptoms, including pain changes at different temperatures, pain to pressure through various part of the body, bowel problems, poor sleep, fatigue and memory problems. Patients can often feel bewildered and distressed by these unexplained symptoms.Recent research from our group suggests that many patients have substances, ‘autoantibodies’, in their blood, which cause the FMS symptoms; these autoantibodies also determine the temperature at which patients feel most comfortable. There are currently no clinical data that allow us to inform patients about how frequent the temperature dependence of FMS is.
We now wish to find out about patients' own perception of the ambient temperature at which they feel at their best, and how a change in temperature affects their reported other FMS symptoms and their measured sensitivity to pressure.
We anticipate, that the data from this study, together with the results from our previous laboratory tests will allow doctors to better explain the temperature dependence of symptoms to their patients including by putting patients' experienced symptoms into context with information about the situation of other patients who suffer from the same condition; such better information should reduce patient's distress.
We will identify 100 patients with fibromyalgia through the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust Pain Management Program registry and invite them for a single visit, during which we will assess their symptoms of temperature sensitivity, measure their skin mechanical sensitivities at room temperature, and ask them to complete questionnaires and answer some questions about their medical and fibromyalgia history.
Summary of Results
Thank you to our study participants We are grateful to everyone who took part in this research. Your contributions help us understand fibromyalgia better and work towards improving care for people with this condition.Understanding Sensory Symptoms in Fibromyalgia Who carried out this research?
This study was conducted by researchers at the University of Liverpool. It was supported by The Medical Research Council, Versus Arthritis and the Pain Relief Foundation.
Why was this research needed?
Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes widespread pain and other symptoms like fatigue, poor sleep, and difficulty concentrating. Many people with fibromyalgia also report unusual sensory experiences, such as increased sensitivity to temperature and touch. However, these symptoms are not well understood. Our research aimed to explore how people with fibromyalgia respond to different types of touch and temperature changes.
Who participated in this study?
We studied people with fibromyalgia and compared them to people without fibromyalgia.
What happened during the study?
Participants took part in a series of tests designed to assess:
How changes in temperature affected their pain.
Their sensitivity to light touch and pressure.
Whether they experienced unusual lingering sensations after touch or pressure.What were the results of the study?
Temperature Sensitivity: Most people with fibromyalgia (nearly 80%) said that temperature affected their symptoms. However, temperature sensitivity did not strongly predict pain severity or other symptoms. People seemed to prefer colder or warmer temperatures.
Sensitivity to Touch and Pressure: People with fibromyalgia were more sensitive to pressure and found light touch less pleasant than people without fibromyalgia.
Lingering Sensations After Touch: Many people with fibromyalgia experienced unusual sensations that lasted beyond the initial touch or pressure. Some found these sensations uncomfortable, lasting for days after the examination and those who did have these sensations were more likely to find touch unpleasant in general.
How does this study help patients and researchers?This research improves our understanding of how fibromyalgia affects the way people process touch and temperature. It highlights that sensory symptoms are an important part of the condition and could help guide new treatments, such as personalised pain management approaches. It also provides a wealth of information for us to use to explore how the immune protein in people's blood bring about symptoms. This work led to our discovering changes to nerve function around temperature and we are currently further exploring this.
Where can I learn more about this study?
If you would like to find out more, please contact Richard.berwick@liverpool.ac.uk or visit The Pain Relief Institute Website. The study has been published: https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.pstmrk.it%2F3ts%2Fdoi.org%252F10.1093%252Fpm%252Fpnac089%2FNBTI%2Fnja8AQ%2FAQ%2F70aa3739-6e0e-456e-b105-809fca1aa68e%2F2%2Fs48lMdJUh0&data=05%7C02%7CWales.REC2%40wales.nhs.uk%7Cc1eafe31eb8e46d3e21508dd6d0a9aa4%7Cbb5628b8e3284082a856433c9edc8fae%7C0%7C0%7C638786614490337015%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=oRnl8DGf48aNMvmQx%2BrI3ii9V6Ie9XPA4%2BLvODG8Ojw%3D&reserved=0
REC name
Wales REC 2
REC reference
18/WA/0234
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion