Fibromyalgia, infection and vaccination: two more parts in the etiological puzzl

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J Autoimmun. 2006 Nov;27(3):145-52. Epub 2006 Oct 30.

Fibromyalgia, infection and vaccination: two more parts in the etiological

puzzle.

Ablin JN, Shoenfeld Y, Buskila D.

Source

Department of Rheumatology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Sackler Faculty

of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. ajacob@...

Abstract

As the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia continues to raise debate, multiple putative

triggers have been implicated. The current review summarizes the available data

linking fibromyalgia to either infection or vaccination. Multiple infectious

agents have been associated with the development of either full-blown

fibromyalgia (e.g. hepatits C), or with symptom complexes extensively

overlapping with that syndrome (e.g. chronic Lyme disease). The cases of Lyme

disease, mycoplasma, hepatits C and HIV are detailed. Despite the described

associations, no evidence is available demonstrating the utility of antibiotic

or anti-viral treatment in the management of fibromyalgia. Possible mechanistic

links between fibromyalgia and HIV are reviewed. Associations have been

described between various vaccinations and symptom complexes including

fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The case of Gulf War syndrome, a

functional multisystem entity sharing many clinical characteristics with

fibromyalgia is discussed, with emphasis on the possibility of association with

administration of multiple vaccinations during deployment in the Persian Gulf

and the interaction with stress and trauma. Based on this example a model is

proposed, wherein vaccinations function as co-triggers for the development of

functional disorders including fibromyalgia, in conjunction with additional

contributing factors.

PMID: 17071055 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]