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We still don’t know much about what causes fibromyalgia. But one of the most popular theories is that fibro is an autoimmune disease. There’s an obvious problem with this theory, which is that people with fibromyalgia don’t have the elevated antibody levels that people with autoimmune conditions too. But, for some reason, people with fibromyalgia do seem to be more likely to develop autoimmune diseases. For instance, consider pemphigus vulgaris.
Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease that seems to affect people with fibromyalgia at a higher rate than normal, just like other autoimmune diseases. So what exactly is pemphigus? What’s the link with fibromyalgia? And what can you do to treat it?
What Is Pemphigus Vulgaris?
Pemphigus is caused by the immune system attacking your body’s healthy tissue, like all autoimmune conditions. The antibodies that create the immune system attack the skin cells in people with pemphigus. As a response, the skin cells begin to replicate themselves too quickly, which causes painful blisters and rashes.
There are two kinds of pemphigus: Vulgaris and foliaceous. Pemphigus foliaceous affects the skin all over the body, but most often the torso and scalp. This causes a large blistering rash over these areas of skin. This rash is usually quite painful, but it’s also unsightly and many people who suffer from it feel at least some element of embarrassment about it. And that’s why it can be a psychologically scarring disorder as well.
Vulgaris, on the other hand, attacks the mucous membranes. That includes the eyes, mouth, and throat. This usually causes painful sores in those areas. But in around half of all cases, it also causes blisters on the body, though not in the same sort of rash pattern as the foliaceous variety. These blisters usually tend to ooze pus before crusting over and eventually healing.
It’s an easy condition to diagnose. Usually, all that’s required is a simple blood test to test for raised levels of antibodies.
What’s The Link With Fibromyalgia?
We know that there is a definite link between fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases like pemphigus. Fibromyalgia patients tend to develop autoimmune diseases at a higher rate and autoimmune patients are also more likely to develop fibromyalgia.
This seems like it suggests that fibromyalgia has an immune element to it, but research has shown this isn’t the case. Instead, it may be a psychological issue. We know that people who suffer from psychological distress tend to develop fibromyalgia at a higher rate than normal as well. And few things are as psychological distressing as suffering from a chronic autoimmune disease.
So, it could be that the stress of these conditions tends to lead to fibromyalgia or even the other way around. But luckily when it comes to pemphigus, there are ways to treat the condition.
How Can You Treat It?
The first step is to manage the painful sores that the condition causes. There are a few things that doctors do to accomplish this and they’re all basic wound management techniques. Antibiotics are one of the first steps, as they can help limit the possibility of infection. And you might be prescribed oral numbing agents to limit the pain of the mouth sores.
The second step in treatment is to deal with the systemic inflammation that autoimmune conditions like pemphigus cause. Not only is this inflammation one of the most significant factors in causing symptoms like blistering, it can also cause damage to your vital organs like the heart and lungs. Luckily, there are a number of different medications used to limit inflammation.
The first is basic over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen. These drugs are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. NSAIDs not only help to manage pain, but they block a specific protein that causes inflammation.
The second option is something called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are a natural hormone that your body produces in response to inflammation. But your doctor can also prescribe synthetic corticosteroids to help bolster your body’s natural response.
Finally, you might be prescribed immunosuppressants. Immunosuppressant drugs work by reducing the activity of the immune system. This treats the underlying issue of overactive antibodies attacking your healthy tissue. Immunosuppressants reduce the number of antibodies your cells produce, which means fewer antibodies attacking your tissue. But these drugs also carry the risk of raising your vulnerability to infections since they weaken the immune system.
But let us know, do you have pemphigus vulgaris? Do you also have fibromyalgia? What’s the connection? Tell us in the comments.
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