Sensitization, glutamate, and the link between migraine and fibromyalgia

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2007 Oct;11(5):343-51.

Sensitization, glutamate, and the link between migraine and fibromyalgia.

Sarchielli P, Di Filippo M, Nardi K, Calabresi P.

Neurologic Clinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties and Public Health, University of Perugia, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia, Via Santa Andrea delle Fratte, San Sisto, 06158 Perugia, Italy. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Recent advances have shed insight on the pathophysiologic mechanisms of fibromyalgia and migraine, especially in the chronic form. A growing body of evidence supports the involvement of peripheral and central sensitization disturbances of pain-related processes underlying both disorders. They involve increased glutamate transmission through interaction with its ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Few studies supporting the implication of this excitatory amino acid in chronic migraine and primary fibromyalgia demonstrated increased levels of glutamate in the cerebrospinal fluid of affected patients. These findings have implications for future therapies directed against glutamate receptors (in particular, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors). Limited clinical experience in this regard, although promising, does not exclude additional mechanisms contributing to the maintenance of pain, which can be the target of therapeutic approaches in both disorders.

PMID: 17894924 [PubMed - in process]