REVIEW ARTICLE

Functional somatic syndrome: how it could be relevant to rheumatologists

Authors

Kayo Masuko¹ and Hiroshi Nakamura²

1. Department of Bioregulation and Proteomics, Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, 2-16-1, Sugao, Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 216-8512, Japan
2. Department of Joint Disease and Rheumatism, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

Received:

18 December 2006

Accepted:

19 March 2007

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Abstract

Functional somatic syndrome (FSS) is defined as a group of related syndromes characterized more by symptoms, suffering, and disability than by structural or functional abnormality. The diagnostic criteria and/or symptoms of FSS often overlap, and co-morbidity is commonly found among the diseases of FSS. For example, patients with irritable bowel syndrome often suffer from chronic pain, and a high percentage of co-morbidity can be found with fibromyalgia. Accumulating evidence indicates the presence of visceral and somatic hyperalgesia in FSS as a common feature, and the central sensitization mechanism has been suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of FSS. In the present article, the authors introduce the concept of FSS focusing on its possible relevance to rheumatology in terms of pain perception. A possible implication of mast cells and proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) in FSS is also reviewed.

Key words

Functional somatic syndrome - Mast cells - Pain