Blood Test Could Offer Diagnosis For Fibromyalgia and 3 Other Disorders...

Fibromyalgia sufferers may finally have visible proof of their condition within their grasp. After decades of relying on broad, often disputed diagnostic criteria, doctors and researchers may soon have a definitive blood test for fibromyalgia. The test may even be able to detect a patient’s degree of suffering.

The test is also able to detect 3 other rheumatological disorders with 100% accuracy, along with biomarkers that appear to identify fibromyalgia. The test might also be able to determine how severe the illness is. This could be an incredible breakthrough...

New Blood Test Under Study

Researchers at Ohio State’s School of Medicine have uncovered blood biomarkers they believe show the presence of fibromyalgia. They compared blood samples of 50 people diagnosed with fibromyalgia to 71 patients with other rheumatological disorders. Of those other participants, 29 had been positively diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 23 had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 19 had osteoarthritis (OA).

The samples were analyzed using techniques called FT-IR and FT-Raman microspectroscopy. Researchers using this method could blindly differentiate the blood of each specific rheumatological illness with 100% accuracy. Among those illnesses, they found what they believe is a diagnostic result for fibromyalgia. Even more astonishing, the test may be able to detect the severity of a person’s suffering.

Previous Diagnostic Criteria

Up until 2010, doctors diagnosed fibromyalgia by a combination of symptoms and at least 11 of 18 “tender spots” along the body. These criteria had multiple problems. The biggest issue was the 18 tender spots, which proved diagnostically irrelevant, showing up more commonly in healthy females than people with fibromyalgia.

The most recent guidelines have dropped the tender spots, but they still diagnose fibromyalgia based on 3 subjective findings: chronic, widespread pain that can’t be explained by another condition; problems sleeping; and trouble concentrating. People with fibromyalgia are also likely to suffer from multiple somatic symptoms that often include fatigue, headaches, depression, urinary tract pain, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive issues.

Misconceptions of an Invisible Illness

Due to the diagnostic nature of fibromyalgia, many patients have been the subject of ridicule over the validity of their disorder. Some authorities have even speculated that the illness actually only exists in sufferers’ heads, treating people with fibromyalgia as though they were psychiatric patients. A blood test would finally change that.

Fibromyalgia patients have waited decades for a definitive test, but they’ll need to wait a little longer for this one to become publicly available. According to a statement in Ohio State University’s press release, plans are underway for testing on larger groups of people, and that takes time. If all goes well, researchers hope to have the test available for public use within 5 years.

~ Here’s to Your Health and Wellness